Cherokee County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ball Ground, Georgia 30107
Friday, May 16, 1997 19:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

After applying power to takeoff, the airplane began drifting to the left, which increased as the airspeed increased. The pilot applied right rudder, but the airplane continued to the left. With an embankment ahead, the pilot attempted to takeoff, but the airplane veered off the left side of the runway and collided with the embankment. The airplane operator stated that there was no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction of the airplane or its systems.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

failure of the pilot to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll and his failure to abort the takeoff before colliding with an embankment.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/16/1997
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1945
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City BALL GROUND
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30107
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CHEROKEE COUNTY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 47A
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1219
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1956 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 192
Weather Observation Facility ID MGE
Elevation of weather observation facility 1068
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 24
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 183
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 16 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2101
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:17PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5689G
NTSB Number MIA97LA167
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 150K
Aircraft Series Identifier 150K
Aircraft Serial Number 15071189
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 13 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 48
Airframe Hours 6977
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EL GAVILAN DE PLATA, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3511 SILVERSIDE RD. STE. 105
Aircraft Owner City WILMINGTON
Aircraft Owner State DE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19810
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name FIREFOX AVIATION, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1730 AIRPORT DR.
Operator City BALL GROUND
Operator State GA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 30107
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 47A
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1945
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 22
Runway Length 3414
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --