Davis Crossroads Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Summerton, South Carolina 29148
Friday, September 13, 1991 9:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN VEERING TO THE LEFT JUST PRIOR TO LIFTOFF. TO AVOID RUNNING OFF THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY, HE ROTATED EARLY. THE AIRPLANE WAS THEN NEAR STALL SPEED, HEADING TOWARDS A TREE. HE APPLIED FULL FLIGHT CONTROL INPUTS TO AVOID THE TREE, AND THE AIRPLANE STALLED. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE RUNWAY WAS WET FROM DEW, AND THAT A QUARTERING RIGHT TAILWIND 'WAS NOT GIVEN PROPER ATTENTION.'

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS AT THE AIRSTRIP. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE QUARTERING TAILWIND AND THE WET FIELD CONDITIONS AT THE AIRSTRIP.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/13/1991
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 915
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City SUMMERTON
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 29148
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport DAVIS CROSSROADS
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 80
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 10000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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) 1444
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44312
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4184L
NTSB Number ATL91LA173
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 172G
Aircraft Series Identifier 172G
Aircraft Serial Number 17254253
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LAFOSSE, DAVID A.
Aircraft Owner Street Address ROUTE 1, BOX 533
Aircraft Owner City SUMMERTON
Aircraft Owner State SC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 29148
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name LAFOSSE, DAVID A.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address ROUTE 1, BOX 533
Operator City SUMMERTON
Operator State SC
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 29148
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
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 915
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 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 3
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 90
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --