What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.4)The single piloted Cessna 172, (N12172) launched into 400 f eet overcast, 6 miles visibility in light rain and fog weather conditions, at night, and when queried by the Raleigh-Durham departure controller what his heading was, he responded, '172 has got uh a vacuum problem'. Contrary to departure instructions to commence a right turn after take-off, N12172 entered a left turn after take-off that continued for 2 1/2 minutes until ground impact about 1.3 miles northwest of the airport. (-23)12/24/97: aircraft N12172 takeoff from rdu at about 0104Z into IMC weather from runway 5R with a right turn out to a heading of 120. Shortly after takeoff, controller's called pilot to find out why he was making a left turnout. Pilot reported he ahd a vacuum pump failure. Aircraft was found about 1.3 NM of rdu airport. Burn up from baggage compartment forward. (Fatal to pilot)
As the FAA filed it
(.4)THE SINGLE PILOTED CESSNA 172, (N12172) LAUNCHED INTO 400 F EET OVERCAST, 6 MILES VISIBILITY IN LIGHT RAIN AND FOG WEATHER CONDITIONS, AT NIGHT, AND WHEN QUERIED BY THE RALEIGH-DURHAM DEPARTURE CONTROLLER WHAT HIS HEADING WAS, HE RESPONDED, '172 HAS GOT UH A VACUUM PROBLEM'. CONTRARY TO DEPARTURE INSTRUCTIONS TO COMMENCE A RIGHT TURN AFTER TAKE-OFF, N12172 ENTERED A LEFT TURN AFTER TAKE-OFF THAT CONTINUED FOR 2 1/2 MINUTES UNTIL GROUND IMPACT ABOUT 1.3 MILES NORTHWEST OF THE AIRPORT. (-23)12/24/97: AIRCRAFT N12172 TAKEOFF FROM RDU AT ABOUT 0104Z INTO IMC WEATHER FROM RUNWAY 5R WITH A RIGHT TURN OUT TO A HEADING OF 120. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, CONTROLLER'S CALLED PILOT TO FIND OUT WHY HE WAS MAKING A LEFT TURNOUT. PILOT REPORTED HE AHD A VACUUM PUMP FAILURE. AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND ABOUT 1.3 NM OF RDU AIRPORT. BURN UP FROM BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT FORWARD. (FATAL TO PILOT)
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.