CESSNA 172H near Berryville, AR — 2026-05-25

Probable cause

The pilot in command’s decision to continue the takeoff when the airplane was not airborne at midfield, and the student pilot’s likely improper technique that resulted in a lack of sufficient climb performance and subsequent loss of control.

NTSB narrative

The pilot-in-command was in the right front seat. She held a commercial pilot certificate and a current flight review endorsement. The passenger was in the left front seat. He held a student pilot certificate with a current 90-day solo endorsement and was flying the airplane during the accident takeoff. The airplane departed from a 3,000-foot-long grass airstrip with trees and powerlines off the departure end. The before takeoff checklist and engine run-up were completed without issue. The airplane used about 75% of the runway to become airborne. At that point, the student pilot (flying pilot) realized that the airplane was not going to clear the powerlines and trees. He turned the airplane to the left and “pulled back” on the flight control yoke. The airplane subsequently lost energy and impacted the ground near the departure end of the runway. Both pilots stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures associated with the airplane before the accident. They noted that aborting the takeoff, once the airplane was not airborne at the halfway point down the runway, might have prevented the accident. According to the Airplane Owner’s Manual, the estimated distance required to clear a 50-foot obstacle on a turf runway, under the accident conditions, was about 1,028 ft. The pilot’s decision to continue the takeoff when the airplane was not airborne near midfield was the beginning of the accident sequence. In the absence of any airplane anomalies, it is likely that the flying pilot’s handling technique resulted in the lack of sufficient climb performance, loss of control, and the impact with terrain.

NTSB coding

• Loss of control in flight · Takeoff
• Loss of Control on Takeoff/Initial Climb
• Decision Making / Judgment

Evidence available

• Photos
• 6 docket documents

Docket documents6

• PILOT/OPERATOR AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT REPORT, NTSB FORM 6120.1form
• AIRPLANE OWNER'S MANUAL (EXCERPT)other
• FAA AIRPLANE EXAMINATION SUMMARYother
• FAA REGULATION -- RESPONSIBILITY AND AUTHORITY OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND (14 CFR 91.3)other
• FAA SAIB CE-09-35 / CARBURETOR ICING PROBABILITYother
• INVESTIGATION PHOTOSphotos

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