Cessna 172P N52858

Summary

On 18 July 1993 at about 20:20 local time, a Cessna 172P registered N52858, operated by Paramus Flying Club, was involved in an accident near Edgartown, Massachusetts, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 July 1993 at 20:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Edgartown, Massachusetts, United States

Nearest airport

Katama Airpark (1B2)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Cessna 172P

Registration

N52858

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Paramus Flying Club

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Teterboro

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

BFO93LA127

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF. OTHER RELATED FACTORS WERE: THE TAILWIND, AND THE GROSS WEIGHT OF THE AIRPLANE BEING EXCEEDED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERS WERE TAKING OFF ON RUNWAY 3 WHEN THE AIRPLANE EXITED THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH PINE TREES. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD COMPLETED HIS PREFLIGHT INSPECTION WHICH INCLUDED A WEIGHT AND BALANCE CHECK. HE ALSO STATED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT WAS, 'PUSHED FORCEFULLY FORWARD AND TO PORT BY A REAR RIGHT CROSSWIND.' HE STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO KEEP THE AIRCRAFT ON THE RUNWAY, SO HE PULLED THE POWER OFF AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN AN OPEN FIELD. HE STATED THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. AN FAA INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT THE PILOT WAS TAKING OFF DOWNWIND ON A 4000 FOOT LONG TURF STRIP. HE STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE NEVER GAINED ALTITUDE AND EXITED THE RUNWAY WITH FULL POWER THROUGH SMALL PINE TREES SHEARING OFF THE LEFT MAIN GEAR. THE PILOT PROVIDED THE PASSENGERS' WEIGHTS TO THE FAA. THE WEIGHT AND BALANCE WAS CALCULATED BY THE FAA INSPECTOR, USING THE CESSNA PERFORMANCE CHARTS. HIS CALCULATIONS REVEALED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS OVER GROSS WEIGHT BY 40 LBS, AND OUTSIDE THE CENTER OF GRAVITY ENVELOPE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.