Double Circle Ranch Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Safford, Arizona 85546
Saturday, May 30, 1992 18:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

IN HIS WRITTEN STATEMENT, THE PILOT SAID HE APPLIED FULL POWER FOR TAKEOFF. HE STATED THAT AFTER THE POWER WAS APPLIED AND HE WAS ABOUT A THIRD OF THE WAY DOWN THE PRIVATE AIRSTRIP, A HERD OF CATTLE STARTED RUNNING TOWARD THE RUNWAY. HE SAID HE IMMEDIATELY PULLED THE POWER BACK AND SWERVED TO MISS THE CATTLE. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THE CATTLE CONTINUED TO RUN TOWARD THE AIRPLANE. HE HIT THREE OF THE COWS. HE SAID HE STOPPED THE AIRPLANE AND TURNED ALL SYSTEMS OFF.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE AIRPLANE COLLIDING WITH ANIMALS WHICH RAN ON TO THE RUNWAY DURING THE PILOT'S TAKEOFF ROLL. A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT NOT BEING ABLE TO TAKE REMEDIAL ACTION AND AVOID THE ANIMALS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/30/1992
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1800
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City SAFFORD
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85546
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport DOUBLE CIRCLE RANCH
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
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 4800
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
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) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2247
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 16 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 47019
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:55PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4163L
NTSB Number LAX92LA248
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 172L
Aircraft Series Identifier 172L
Aircraft Serial Number 17254252
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection May 1 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 4132
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SAFFORD AVIATION SERVICE, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address RR 1, BOX 540
Aircraft Owner City SAFFORD
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85546
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SAFFORD AVIATION SERVICE, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address RR 1, BOX 540
Operator City SAFFORD
Operator State AZ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 85546
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code NONE
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1800
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code SAD
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 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --