Cessna 172H accident near Foley, Alabama, June 8, 2000
On June 8, 2000, a Cessna 172H, registered N2849L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Foley, Alabama (Clyde Weir Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot exceeding the performance capability of the airplane during takeoff. A factor was the trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 2000
- Place
- Foley, Alabama · Clyde Weir Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172H · all 172Hs on the register
- Registration
- N2849L · no longer on the register · serial 17256049
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Prior to performing touch and go landings on a 1,000 ft. private grass airstrip with trees at both ends of the runway, the pilot performed takeoff performance calculations and determined that 700 ft. of ground roll would be required without obstacles, and 1,200 ft. would be required for a 50-ft. obstacle clearance. During the pilot's first landing, he touched down 200 ft. from the runway threshold. He applied full power and did not retract the 40 degrees of flaps. During initial climb following takeoff, the airplane's landing gear clipped a line of trees. The airplane then collided with the ground nose first, coming to rest 500 ft. off the end of the runway. According to the 1967 Cessna 172H Airplane Flight Manual, flap settings of 30 to 40 degrees are not recommended at any time for takeoff. In addition, there is no performance data in the manual for takeoffs with 40 degrees of flaps.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,265 hours in all; 176 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,103 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 17, 2000; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT AL at 11:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 1,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 pm from NPA, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.