N61569

On July 6, 1994, at 2112 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172, N61569, collided with a fence at the Hanford Municipal airport in Hanford, California, during an attempted takeoff. The aircraft skidded about 1,500 feet before it came to rest on a median next to Highway 198. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, and the certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated as a business flight from Hanford to Selma, California.

The pilot reported that on takeoff from runway 32, at an altitude between 5 and 10 feet, the engine began losing power. He reduced power and landed back on the runway. The aircraft was unable to stop on the remaining runway and collided with the fence. The pilot reported no mechanical problems. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) review of the engine logbooks indicated no mechanical problems with the engine or any indication of engine damage from fuel detonation during previous inspections.

A fuel sample from the aircraft was analyzed by Saybolt Inc. of Martinez, CA. The fuel was normal for an 80 octane fuel except for a higher octane and lead content. This was attributed to a mix of 80 octane and 100LL fuels.