Event LAX95LA323

Factual narrative

On June 10, 1995, at 0820 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N739NN, collided with ground obstructions following a loss of directional control during a rejected takeoff attempt at the Big Bear, California, airport. The aircraft was operated by the El Toro Marine Aero Club, MCAS El Toro, California, and was rented by the pilot for a personal cross-country flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and included calm wind conditions. A visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured. The flight originated from MCAS El Toro on the day of the accident at 0730. The accident was reported to the Safety Board on August 17, 1995. The operator's completed written accident report stated that no mechanical malfunctions or failures were identified or claimed by the pilot. The pilot attempted a touch and go at the Big Bear airport and touched down in the first third of the runway. He applied full power, retracted the flaps, and set the mixture control to full rich. During the ground roll, the pilot decided that insufficient runway remained to complete the takeoff and he aborted. The pilot lost directional control, veered off the runway, and collided with a drainage ditch. The Big Bear airport is at 6,748 feet mean sea level, and the runway is 5,580 feet long. The density was estimated at 8,900 feet. The pilot is a military aviator assigned to fly large turbine powered helicopters. He has limited experience with small piston engine airplanes. THE OPERATOR STATED THAT NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES WERE IDENTIFIED OR CLAIMED BY THE PILOT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A TOUCH AND GO AT THE MOUNTAIN RESORT AIRPORT AND TOUCHED DOWN IN THE FIRST THIRD OF THE RUNWAY. HE APPLIED FULL POWER, RETRACTED THE FLAPS, AND SET THE MIXTURE CONTROL TO FULL RICH. DURING THE GROUND ROLL, THE PILOT DECIDED THAT INSUFFICIENT RUNWAY REMAINED TO COMPLETE THE TAKEOFF AND HE ABORTED. THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A DRAINAGE DITCH. THE BIG BEAR AIRPORT IS AT 6,748 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL, AND THE RUNWAY IS 5,850 FEET LONG. THE DENSITY WAS ESTIMATED AT 8,900 FEET. THE PILOT IS A MILITARY AVIATOR ASSIGNED TO FLY LARGE TURBINE POWERED HELICOPTERS. HE HAS LIMITED EXPERIENCE WITH SMALL PISTON ENGINE AIRPLANES. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12