The pilot was not aware of the length of the runway, and did not walk/survey it prior to the takeoff from the short, wet, soft surface. He used a combination of short- and soft-field takeoff procedures, and after becoming airborne, the “P” factor seemed “unusually strong.” He applied right aileron and rudder in an attempt to maintain directional control, but the right wing then the nose and left wing contacted the ground. The pilot further stated that there was no pre-impact failure or malfunction with the airplane or its systems.
May 13, 2008, Jamestown, Penn., Cessna 172A
The pilot was not aware of the length of the runway, and did not walk/survey it prior to the takeoff from the short, wet, soft surface. He used a combination of short- and soft-field takeoff procedures, and after becoming airborne, the "P" factor seemed "unusually strong." He applied right aileron and rudder in an attempt to maintain directional control, but the right wing then the nose and left wing contacted the ground. The pilot further stated that there was no pre-impact failure or malfunction with the airplane or its systems.
Key Takeaways:
- The pilot, unaware of the runway's critical length and its short, wet, and soft conditions, failed to survey it before takeoff.
- Post-takeoff, an "unusually strong" P-factor led to a loss of directional control despite the pilot's corrective inputs, resulting in the right wing, nose, and left wing contacting the ground.
- The pilot confirmed there were no pre-impact failures or malfunctions with the airplane or its systems.
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