CESSNA 172
Salmon, ID — November 8, 2016
Event Information
| Date | November 8, 2016 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | GAA17CA076 |
| Event ID | 20161123X24110 |
| Location | Salmon, ID |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 45.10472, -114.79861 |
| Airport | SOLDIER BAR USFS |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | CESSNA |
| Model | 172 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 135 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The airplane's encounter with a depression in a dirt runway during takeoff, which resulted in a tail strike.
Full Narrative
The pilot reported that during takeoff on a dirt runway he rotated the airplane and as it "went through a dip in the airstrip" he felt a "thump" [tail strike]. The pilot further reported that the airplane became airborne and he continued the flight uneventfully.
During a postflight inspection, it was revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the bulkhead and lower skin of the tail cone.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.