On September 8, 2007, at 1030 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172M, registered to and operated by Twin Cities Air Service LLC, collided with the ground shortly after takeoff at the Mansfield Municipal Airport, Mansfield, Massachusetts. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of accident, and no flight was filed for the local 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot, and front seated passenger were fatally injured. The two rear seated passengers were seriously injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

A witness at the accident site reported that he had just landed on runway 32, and was clearing the runway. At that time, he believed the pilot had advised traffic that he was on take off roll. Shortly thereafter he heard the pilot call "mayday, mayday, I can't clear the trees." The witness stated that he saw the airplane in a "slight nose up attitude and climbing slightly." Additionally, the witness said that the "airplane made a sharp left and the nose dropped". The airplane then made a half spiral and "crashed nose first."

Another witness to the accident stated that he was manning the radios at the fly-in and directing pilots onto the field at the end of runway 32. He said that he saw the Cessna 172 as it took off from runway 32. The airplane was at an extreme climb angle when it passed the taxiway were he was standing. He heard the pilot radio " "mayday, mayday, I'm going around, I don't think I'll clear the trees." He watched as the pilot turned into the wind, flying very slowly with approximately 10-15 degrees of flaps deployed. The witness also stated that the airplane turned around almost a full 180 degrees, and he believed that the left wing stalled at that point. The airplane then descended from approximately 150 feet nose straight down.

The airport authorities were the first responders to the accident scene. The airplane was located 380 feet off of the left side of the departure end of runway 32. The airplane was on a 245-degree heading at a coordinate of 42.00.099N, 071.12.150W, on the airport field. According to the airport authorities, fuel was leaking from both wings of the airplane and there were no signs of smoke or fire.

NTSB Identification: ATL07FA125
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, September 08, 2007 in Mansfield, MA
Aircraft: Cessna 172M, registration: N19952
Injuries: 2 Fatal, 2 Serious.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.