Pilot Realized That He And The Front Seat Passenger Were Hanging From Their Seatbelts...

Location: Waxhaw, NC Accident Number: ERA21LA313
Date & Time: August 2, 2021, 12:59 Local Registration: N3090U
Aircraft: Cessna 172 Injuries: 3 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On August 2, 2021, about 1259 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172E, N3090U, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident in Waxhaw, North Carolina. The pilot and two passengers received minor injuries. The airplane was being operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The accident occurred during takeoff from runway 04 at JAARS-Townsend Airport (N52), Waxhaw, North Carolina. After rotation, just past the windsock located on the fence of the airport, the airplane became airborne and gained roughly 50 feet. The pilot maintained best rate of climb speed (80 mph), but the airplane failed to climb. He momentarily decreased the speed towards best angle of climb speed, to see if the airplane would respond with best  angle of climb, but it did not, so he returned to best rate of climb speed. He heard no abnormal sounds from the engine or any decrease in rpm during the takeoff run.

Sensing that the airplane would not clear the trees beyond the departure end of the runway (the trees were getting closer and he was not able to see any more trees appearing beyond), he momentarily reduced power to idle to land on the remaining runway and overrun area. However, as he was thinking about the rapid deceleration forces of hitting the chain-link fence, he elected to add power and land on a lawn just beyond the airport. After adding enough power to reach the lawn, he reduced power to idle and touched down prior to a wooded area. On rollout, the airplane was traveling towards a gap in the trees. The pilot then turned left to avoid the trees, and the airplane nosed over and came to rest nose down, leaning against a tree.

The pilot realized that he and the front seat passenger were hanging from their seatbelts, and he was concerned about the fuel that was leaking from the airplane. The rear seat passenger easily egressed and assisted the front seat passenger. The pilot’s pant leg was snagged between his seat and the instrument panel, so he grabbed the fabric and ripped it until he felt he was free at which point he was able to egress. He then directed some campers away from the accident site, and a few minutes later returned to the airplane, to ensure that the master switch was off. To do so, he pulled the windscreen the rest of the way off the airplane (it had already been partially separated from the airplane during the accident sequence.

The pilot had flown this airplane several times over the previous few weeks without any problems.

The wreckage was retained by the NTSB for examination.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov