# NTSB NYC88FA202: Cessna 172P, N62541, Post Mills, VT, August 3, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 3, 1988, 19:10 local (23:10 UTC)
- Place: Post Mills, VT
- Location: 43.8856° N, 72.2606° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Post Mills, VT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.8856&lon=-72.2606&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report January 16, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36010
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC88FA202
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36010/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88FA202

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb
  - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - grass (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT FLEW THE ACFT TO AN ARPT WITH TWO TURF RWYS. RWY 5/23 WAS 2300' LONG & RWY 4/22 WAS 2600' LONG. AFTER ATTENDING A MEETING WHICH ENDED AT 1600 EDT, THE PLT ELECTED TO WAIT UNTIL LATER IN THE DAY TO TAKEOFF AFTER THE AIR HAD COOLED. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE BEGAN HIS DEPARTURE FROM RWY 5; HOWEVER, THE TEMP WAS STILL ABOUT 90 DEG, THE DENSITY ALT WAS APRX 2250' & THERE WAS A LIGHT WIND FROM THE SOUTH. WITNESSES RPRTD THAT AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE ACFT WAS IN A NOSE HI ATTITUDE, WHEN IT ENTERED A TURN TO THE RIGHT. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT COLLIDED WITH A TREE & CRASHED, APRX 200' EAST OF THE ARPT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT WAS FOUND. A WEIGHT & BALANCE COMPUTATION SHOWED THE ACFT WAS LOADED APRX 36 LBS OVER ITS MAX GROSS WEIGHT LIMIT. AT 1853 EDT, THE WIND AT LEBANON, NH (APRX 15 MI SOUTH) WAS FROM 200 DEG AT 5 KTS. TAKEOFF COMPUTATIONS (ALLOWING FOR A TURF RWY & A 5 KT TAIL WIND) SHOWED 1492' OF RWY WOULD BE REQUIRED TO TAKEOFF & 2725' WOULD BE NEEDED TO CLEAR A 50' OBSTACLE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N62541](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N62541-1988-08-31), registration cancelled 1988-08-31, S/N 17275299, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17275299
- Airframe hours: 1215
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Ormand E. Schade
- Registered owner: Worcester Naa Flying Club
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 1, 1988, 90 hours before
- Departed: 2B9
- Destination: WORCESTER, MA
- Airport: 2B9, Post Mills, runway 5, 2,300 × 90 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 182 total, 108 in this make and model, 102 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LEB, 13 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19880803029939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880803029939A), Aug 3, 1988: Cessna 172P, Post Mills, VT, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Tried to depart short grass strip downwind, temperature 90. Over gross weight. Struck trees and destroyed aircraft.

## Other investigations on N62541 (2)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC85LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC85LA084), Mar 16, 1985: Cessna 172P (N62541), Princeton, NJ, substantial damage
- [NTSB CHI83LA183](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI83LA183), Apr 23, 1983: Cessna 172 (N62541), Frankfort, IL, substantial damage

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.