N20466

On July 18, 2001, at 1909 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N20466, impacted electrical power transmission lines at the departure end of the runway, flew an additional 3 miles, and crashed after takeoff from the Carson Airport, Carson City, Nevada. The pilot and two passengers received minor injuries, and the aircraft was substantially damaged. The local area photographic flight was operated by Aviation America, Inc., under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.

A commercial certificated pilot observed the aircraft takeoff on runway 27 from his position at midfield on the south side of the airport. His attention was drawn to the airplane as it flew past because it was "hanging there," flying at a slow speed, and appeared to be trying to climb. It was about 100 feet above the runway, westbound. He didn't know if it was taking off or doing a touch-and-go or a go-around, but the flaps were full down. As it traveled further west it started to sink and then disappeared from his view behind the hangars on the west end of the airport. He didn't think the engine sounded as though it was operating at full power. He recalled the automatic weather observation system (AWOS) reporting the surface wind was from the west at 8 knots.

The density altitude was approximately 7,000 feet.

The aircraft crashed 3 miles south of the airport in a ravine adjacent to a prison. At the scene, the pilot identified himself to law enforcement personnel using the pilot certificate number of another pilot whose name was spelled similarly.

As of July 23, 2001, the Federal Aviation Administration Airman Records database showed the pilot's private pilot certificate in a revoked status. NTSB form 6120.1/2, Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, was sent to the pilot's local address and was not returned.

A letter from the pilot to a third party, dated August 21, 2001, stated "I have returned to Germany since at present I am unable to resolve the issues that I'm facing."