NTSB Factual Report

On July 27, 2017, about 2030 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172A, N7243T, collided with the airport perimeter fence during takeoff and subsequently impacted terrain near the Enumclaw Airport (WA77), Enumclaw, WA. The student pilot and the pilot rated passenger sustained serious injuries; another passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by the owner as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

A witness located at the airport reported that the pilot was conducting touch and go landings. During the last touch and go, the airplane touched down at the departure end of the runway. The pilot took off to the east and the nose landing gear contacted a barbed wire fence. About 200 feet of the wire separated from the fence; a large part of the fence was twined around the airplane, with some parts located in the nearby trees. Another witness stated the airplane flew from west to east at a treetop level. It executed a slow left turn followed by an immediate right turn back towards the airport. The engine sounded as if it was developing full power. Moments later, the airplane impacted terrain.