N496AC

On May 26, 2005, at 2205 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N496AC, registered to and operator by Flightgest Incorporated, collided with trees during climb out at Raleigh Durham International Airport, Raleigh, North Carolina. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The private pilot and passenger were uninjured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight fight departed Raleigh Durham International Airport, Raleigh, North Carolina on May 26, 2005 at 1900.

According to the pilot, after returning from a cross-country flight they were conducting a night landing on runway 32. After landing on the runway the airplane bounced continuously down the runway. The pilot added full power, climbed out and made a 90-degree climbing right turn to avoid runway 23L. Another 90-degree right turn was initiated when the pilot observed an airplane on short final for runway 23L. As the airplane climbed out the airspeed dropped to 40 Knots. The pilot lowered the nose in an attempt to regain airspeed. After lowering the nose the pilot observed trees ahead of the airplane and attempted to climb above the trees but was unable to do so. The pilot stated "the airplane collided with trees."

Post accident examination of the airplane revealed the nose of the airplane was crushed and displaced aft towards the firewall. The right wing assembly displayed leading edge crush damage, and separated at the wing root. The left wing assembly was buckled and displaced aft. The vertical and horizontal stabilizers were buckled and twisted. The empennage was buckled. No flight control anomalies were reported by the pilot prior to the accident.