- Date
- July 1, 1994, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place
- Greenville, ME
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N5482KCessna 172P
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 2, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940701017479A
- Case key
- 38773
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The premature retraction of the wing flaps by the pilot after takeoff, resulting in a loss of lift and collision with trees.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot of the float-equipped airplane stated that after takeoff he raised the wing flaps. At this time, there was a loss of lift and the airplane 'mushed' into the trees. He said that the performance of the airplane was marginal when equipped with the floats. He reported the winds as 8 to 10 knots.
Factual narrative
On Friday, July 1, 1994, at 1200 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172P, N5482K, a float-equipped airplane, registered to Folsom's Air Service, Inc., and piloted by Richard M. Cabot, sustained substantial damage during a takeoff from a pond near Greenville, Maine. The pilot received minor injuries and the two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot reported that after the airplane became airborne, he raised the wing flaps from the 20 degrees setting to the UP position. At this time, a loss of lift occurred, and the airplane "mushed" into the trees. In a telephone interview, the pilot stated that the operation of the float-equipped Cessna 172 was marginal, because of limited airplane performance. He also said that in retrospect, he would have delayed raising the wing flaps until at a higher altitude and airspeed.
The pilot reported that the winds were 8 to 10 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5482K
- Reported as
- Cessna 172P
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17274148
- Airframe hours
- 4,300
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D2J, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- Flosom'S Air Service, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 1, 1994 · 58 hours before
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 47
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,340 total · 50 in this make and model · 1,130 as pilot in command · 70 in the last 90 days · 26 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 215° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N5482K · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.