# NTSB SEA02LA090: Cessna 172, N7225A, Carey, ID, May 30, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 30, 2002, 17:58 local (23:58 UTC) - Place: Carey, ID - Coordinates: 43.479118, -113.87004 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4791&lon=-113.8700&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 8, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54811 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA02LA090 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54811/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54811 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA090 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees during takeoff. ## 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 - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The private pilot reported that shortly after takeoff the airplane experienced a loss of lift "...and started to decelerate." The pilot enriched the mixture and lowered the nose, however, the airplane continued to descend and subsequently collided with trees and terrain approximately 1,000 feet beyond the departure end of the runway. A witness to the accident reported that he heard the accident airplane taking off from the Carey Airport. He reported that shortly thereafter, he heard what sounded like "...a tree shredding machine and looked out the window and saw the aircraft falling vertically and hitting the ground..." The Airport field elevation is 4,783 feet MSL. The winds at the time of the accident were from 250 degrees at 10-15 knots. The reported temperature was approximately 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The pilot and three passengers combined weight was approximately 690 pounds, and the airplane contained approximately 156 pounds of fuel. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure. ## Factual narrative On May 30, 2002, at 1758 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172, N7225A, sustained substantial damage after colliding with trees and terrain shortly after takeoff from the Carey Airport (U65), Carey, Idaho. The airplane is owned by the pilot, and was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal/pleasure flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured; the third passenger aboard the airplane sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement (attached) to the National Transportation Safety Board, the pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, from runway 25, the airplane experienced a loss of lift "...and started to decelerate." The pilot enriched the mixture and lowered the nose, however, the airplane continued to descend and subsequently collided with trees and terrain approximately 1,000 feet beyond the departure end of the runway. A witness to the accident reported that he heard the accident airplane taking off from the Carey Airport. He reported that shortly thereafter, he heard what sounded like "... a tree shredding machine and looked out the window and saw the aircraft falling vertically and hitting the ground..." Following the recovery of the airplane, a mechanic from Discount Aircraft, Deer Park, Washington, conducted an engine examination and reported the following: The engine was found attached to the engine mount assembly and firewall. Impact damage was noted to the frontal area of the engine, carburetor air box and ignition leads. All cylinders and overhead components were intact. The six cylinders developed compression when the crankshaft was rotated by hand. Valve train and accessory gear continuity was also established via crankshaft rotation. The gascolator and associated fuel lines were clear with no signs of contaminants or blockage. The magnetos were intact and produced spark, at the spark plugs, when rotated by hand. The spark plugs were removed and normal operating wear signatures were noted. The Carey Airport (U65) field elevation is 4,783 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL). The turf runway (07/25) is 2,650 feet long, and 170 feet wide. The pilot reported that the winds at the time of the accident were from 250 degrees at 10-15 knots. He reported that the temperature at the field was approximately 80 degrees Fahrenheit. At the time of the accident, the pilot and three passengers combined weight was approximately 690 pounds. The pilot reported that the airplane had approximately 26 gallons (156 pounds) of fuel onboard at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7225A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7225A), registered now, S/N 29325, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 29325 - Engines: Continental O-300 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Craig L. Adamson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 25, 2002, 10 hours before - Departed: U65, Carey, ID - Destination: U65, Carey, ID - Airport: U65, Carey, runway 25, 2,650 × 170 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 6, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 309 total, 279 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 4 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: KSUN, 118 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 20020530013029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020530013029A), May 30, 2002: Cessna 172, Carey, ID, No damage. (-23) On departure from the Carey, Idaho airport the aircraft initial climb was shallow and at an altitude of 50 feet above ground level the pilot experienced… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 30, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54811. 416 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 323 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40439816&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40439817&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Teardown Report (item 3, .PDF, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40174068&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Teardown%20Report-Master.PDF 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.