N52858

On Sunday, July 18, 1993, at about 1620 eastern daylight time, N52858, a Cessna 172, owned and operated by Paramus Flying Club of Teterboro, New Jersey, and piloted by Robert Souaid of New York, crashed during takeoff from runway 3 at Katama Airpark, Edgartown, Massachusetts. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The certificated private pilot and four passengers were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91.

The pilot and passengers were on a return flight to New Jersey. The pilot stated that he completed his preflight inspection which included a weight and balance check. He reported that during his takeoff roll, "the aircraft was pushed forcefully forward and to port by a rear right crosswind. I was unable to keep the aircraft on the runway... I then cut power and brought the aircraft to rest in an open field." He also reported that there was no mechanical malfunction.

An FAA inspector reported that the pilot tried to takeoff downwind from a 4000 foot long grass strip. According to the inspector, the airplane never gained altitude and exited the runway with full power through small pine trees shearing off the left main gear. The inspector also reported that the pilot provided the passengers' weight and when calculated using the Cessna Performance Manual, the airplane was over gross weight by 40 lbs, and outside the center of gravity envelope.