Accident Details
On September 12, 2009, at 2230 central daylight time, a Cessna 172S, registration N523ND, operated by the University of North Dakota, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain during takeoff from runway 31 (5,498 feet by 100 feet, asphalt) at Park Rapids Memorial Airport (PKD), Park Rapids, Minnesota. The pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. The flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a visual flight rules (VFR) flight with a VFR flight plan filed, departing PKD with a destination of Grand Forks International Airport (GFK), Grand Forks, North Dakota. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed.
Flight History
The private pilot reported departing GFK at 1950 and flying to Baudette, Minnesota, where he performed a stop-and-go landing. He then departed Baudette and flew to PKD. At PKD, the pilot executed a go-around on the first landing attempt. On the second attempt, he landed about midfield and performed another stop-and-go landing. He departed for GFK, initiating the takeoff using 10 degrees of flaps. The pilot reported that when he reached about 100 feet above ground level, he retracted the flaps. He felt the airspeed was a little low (70 knots indicated airspeed) so he pushed the nose over. He stated that he did not think he was in a descent, but the airplane hit the ground about 100 feet from the end of the runway.
Post-Accident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the accident site and airplane. The examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane touched down about 100 feet from the end of the runway and subsequently became airborne again. When the airplane contacted the ground a second time, there were eight ground scars in the grass consistent with propeller strikes. The airplane became airborne again, and the nose gear collapsed and both wings were damaged when it hit the ground a third time. The airplane came to rest about 150 feet from the end of the runway. Inspection of the airplane’s flight controls found no preexisting anomalies. The propeller blades exhibited leading edge nicks and gouges, chordwise scratching, and blade twist. The AmSafe seat belt airbag deployed on the pilot side.
Restraint System Examination
The pilot and co-pilot AmSafe airbag restraint systems were sent to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for examination. The examination revealed that the pilot’s restraint system was intact and functional. Markings on the belt portion of the restraint were consistent with some load having been placed on the belt. The lap-belt-mounted airbag had clearly deployed; however, there was no evidence on the bag itself to suggest that significant loads had been applied to the bag during the crash.
Pilot Information
The pilot was a 21-year-old private pilot with a single-engine land rating. He held a first-class medical certificate issued on February 11, 2009. The pilot reported 112 hours of total flight time, all in the same make and model. He had flown 9 hours at night, including 2 hours of night experience as pilot-in-command.