N9620B

On August 7, 1999, at 0800 central daylight time, a Cessna 172RG airplane, N9620B, registered to ATE of Texas, Inc., of Forth Worth, Texas, and operated by American Flyers of Addison, Texas, was substantially damaged when it impacted a fence during takeoff from the Aero Estates Airport near Celina, Texas. The flight instructor and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 positioning flight. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

According to the flight instructor, he did not taxi to the south end of the 1900-foot grass runway to begin his takeoff to the north. He began the takeoff roll "slightly" north of a gravel road located approximately at the mid point of the runway. The pilot reported that the takeoff roll and rotation were normal. During the initial climb, the airplane's right wing struck a barbed wire fence located north of the runway. The pilot then aborted the takeoff. The airplane contacted the ground, crossed over a ditch and came to a stop upright. The pilot reported that the wind was light and variable.

An examination of the aircraft by FAA inspectors revealed that the left horizontal stabilizer's main spar was damaged. The tail was wrinkled forward of the tie down ring and the left wheel well was damaged. The right wing's underside had a 15-inch tear, and there were several dents near its leading edge.