Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during take off roll resulting in a ground loop. A contributing factor was the crosswind.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On March 6, 2001, at 1630 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172F airplane, N5175F, owned by United Aero Inc., of Clovis, New Mexico, and operated by Eastern New Mexico Flight Academy of Clovis, New Mexico, was substantially damaged after a loss of control during take off from runway 30 at the Clovis Municipal Airport, Clovis, New Mexico. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
During a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the pilot stated that, during take off roll, the airplane started to drift to the left and rolled off of the runway surface. He stated that there was "a little crosswind", so he applied "a little right rudder" and lowered the "left wing." The aircraft veered back to the right, nosed over, and the right wing tip struck the ground.
Examination of the aircraft by an FAA inspector revealed that the fuselage was twisted, and the right wing was wrinkled.
Reported winds at Clovis at 1655 were from 230 degrees at 13 knots.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# FTW01LA075