Pilot Debrief

Cessna 172S near Gualala, CA — 2008-04-13

Final reportLAX08CA102
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Date
2008-04-13
Location
Gualala, CA, USA
Airport
E55
Aircraft
Cessna 172S
Registration
N21705
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot's decision not to use all of the available runway, his premature rotation and failure to obtain and maintain an adequate airspeed to continue the takeoff that resulted in a stall/mush, an aborted takeoff, a runway overrun, and a collision with trees. Contributing to the accident was the short runway.

NTSB narrative

The airport manager said the airplane began its takeoff on the 2,500-foot-long runway 13 from the displaced threshold, which is 400 feet from the approach end of the runway. The pilot said he rotated at 55 knots and the airplane lifted off the runway but would not climb. Almost immediately, the stall warning horn began to sound and he lowered the nose to gain speed. The airplane then settled back onto the runway. The pilot reduced the power and began applying brakes to abort the takeoff. The airplane overran the end of the runway, went down a hillside, and collided with trees about 600 feet from the runway. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures.

NTSB coding

View NTSB final report

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