# NTSB NYC98LA007: Cessna 120, N1856N, Prince George, VA, October 6, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 6, 1997, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Prince George, VA - Coordinates: 37.220058, -77.28009 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2201&lon=-77.2801&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 1, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39484 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC98LA007 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39484/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA007 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain takeoff climb, and his delay in aborting the takeoff. A contributing factor was soft terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, takeoff - aborted - climb - not attained, pilot in command - aborted takeoff - delayed, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted - terrain condition - soft - Nose over, landing - aborted ## Analysis The private pilot departed a private grass strip for a local flight. As the pilot rotated the airplane 1000-1200 feet down the runway, it only climbed to 4 feet above the ground. After continuing down the runway for another 400-500 feet the pilot elected to reduce power and abort the takeoff. The airplane touched down on loose dirt, nosed over and came to rest inverted. ## Factual narrative On October 6, 1997, approximately 1000 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 120, N1856N, was substantially damaged when it nosed over during an aborted takeoff from a private grass runway near Prince George, Virginia for a local flight. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated that the east/west direction grass airstrip, from which he was departing, had a length of 2400-2500 feet with 40 foot trees located on the western end. The pilot proceeded to takeoff from the end of the airstrip in a westerly direction and rotated the airplane about 1000-1200 feet down the runway at 60 miles per hour indicated airspeed. The airplane climbed to 4 feet above the ground, then would not climb any higher and continued to travel down the runway for another 400-500 feet where the pilot elected to abort the takeoff by reducing engine power. The airplane descended, touched down on loose dirt and nosed over coming to rest inverted. Upon exiting the airplane, the pilot asked the passenger if he had applied pressure to the brakes that were located on his side of the cockpit, to which he responded that he did not know where they were. The airplane had brakes pedals located on both sides of the cockpit. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1856N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1856N-2012-08-13), registration cancelled 2012-08-13, S/N 12100, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 120 - Registry model: [Cessna 120](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-120) (registry code 2071402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12100 - Engines: Continental C120 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: David Ross - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 3, 1997, 40 hours before - Departed: NONE, VA - Airport: NONE, runway 27, 2,500 × 200 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 454 total, 40 in this make and model, 454 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: RIC, 18 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 19971006045659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971006045659A), Oct 6, 1997: Cessna 120, Prince George, VA, Substantial damage. (.4) The private pilot departed a private grass strip for a local flight. As the pilot rotated the airplane 1000-1200 feet down the runway, it only climbed to… 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.