N5588R

On October 1, 1998, about 1545 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172F, N 5588R, collided with a tree and the ground on takeoff from a private field in Ball Ground, Georgia. The airplane was operated by the registered owner under the provisions of Title 14 CFR part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The private pilot, and sole occupant, was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damaged. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.

According to the pilot, he was on his third takeoff of the day from his newly built private field. The runway was 1000 feet long by 42 feet wide, covered mostly in grass with some packed soil. As he became airborne, he experienced a left quartering wind gust, which pushed the airplane to the right. The right wing collided with a tree and the airplane spun to the right resulting in substantial damage to the airplane.