MIA01LA095

Factual narrative

On March 8, 2001, about 1615 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172R, N651MA, registered to VPC Air Inc., operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, struck tress during initial climb at the Cartersville Airport, Cartersville, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage, and the student pilot, the sole occupant, reported no injuries. The flight had just departed when the accident occurred. The student pilot stated he was on an unsupervised solo flight, and had checked the windsock and "it switched from the north and then went back indicating from 270 degrees." He "…applied full power. At approximately 1/3 normal takeoff [distance], with full right aileron deflection and right rudder, I experienced adverse yaw to the left. Rather then trying to abort at this point, as I should have, I attempted to salvage the takeoff. I temporarily became airborne… I had to stop the aircraft, I pulled the throttle (idle) and attempted to stop… I ended up in a shallow ditch filled with small trees." At the time of the accident the reported winds at the airport were variable at 5 knots. The student pilot stated he was on an unsupervised solo flight, and had checked the windsock and "it switched from the north and the went back indicating from 270 degrees." At approximately 1/3 normal takeoff, with full right aileron deflection and right rudder, he experienced adverse yaw to the left. Rather then trying to abort the takeoff he attempted to salvage the takeoff. The airplane temporarily became airborne, he pulled the throttle to idle and attempted to stop… The airplane impacted in a shallow ditch filled with small trees. At the time of the accident the reported winds at the airport were variable at 5 knots. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12