Cessna 172N N738UL

Summary

On 9 November 2003 at about 20:30 local time, a Cessna 172N registered N738UL was involved in an accident near Philippi, West Virginia, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 November 2003 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Philippi, West Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Simpson (9W3)

Coordinates

39.0933, -80.0258

Aircraft

Cessna 172N

Registration

N738UL

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Philippi → Grafton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC04CA032

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's improper decision to depart from a runway of insufficient length. Factors in the accident were the turf runway and tailwind condition.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot performed a short-field takeoff from runway 19, and rotated the airplane about 1,300 feet from the approach end of the runway. During the initial climb out, the airplane impacted the tops of 40-foot-tall trees, and came to rest inverted, suspended in a tree. The pilot experienced no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. Interpolation of the Takeoff Distance Chart in the Cessna 172N Pilot's Operating Handbook, revealed that at a weight of 2100 lbs, 1,000 feet pressure altitude, temperature of 10 degrees Celsius, and a tailwind component of 5 knots, the calculated takeoff distance required was 1,685 feet, for operations on a dry, grass runway. The winds reported at an airport 10 miles to the northwest were from 340 degrees at 6 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.