What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.4) On December 17, 1999, at 1024 hours pacific standard time, a Cessna 172N, N738UA, operated by the pilot was substantially damaged during a takeoff attempt at Concord, California, when it ran off the departure end of the runway and collided with a fence. The airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight operating under 14 CFR part 91 and no flight plan was filed. The flight was destined for napa, California. After the accident the pilot stated to a federal aviation administration inspector, who responded to the scene, that he had failed to remove the control gust lock prior to the takeoff attempt. In the pilot's insurance company report he also stated that he failed to remove the gust lock during the takeoff roll. He said he reduced the throttle and over flew the airport fence and landed on a road near the runway. The pilot filed a partial aircraft accident report without a statement. (-23) pilot took off and upon reaching the end of the runway he realizes tha the gust lock pin is installed. Pilot stated that he attempted to remove it but did not succeed and the a/c impacted the ground 440 feet from the end of runway 32L.
As the FAA filed it
(.4) ON DECEMBER 17, 1999, AT 1024 HOURS PACIFIC STANDARD TIME, A CESSNA 172N, N738UA, OPERATED BY THE PILOT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING A TAKEOFF ATTEMPT AT CONCORD, CALIFORNIA, WHEN IT RAN OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A FENCE. THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE PERSONAL FLIGHT OPERATING UNDER 14 CFR PART 91 AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT WAS DESTINED FOR NAPA, CALIFORNIA. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT STATED TO A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION INSPECTOR, WHO RESPONDED TO THE SCENE, THAT HE HAD FAILED TO REMOVE THE CONTROL GUST LOCK PRIOR TO THE TAKEOFF ATTEMPT. IN THE PILOT'S INSURANCE COMPANY REPORT HE ALSO STATED THAT HE FAILED TO REMOVE THE GUST LOCK DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. HE SAID HE REDUCED THE THROTTLE AND OVER FLEW THE AIRPORT FENCE AND LANDED ON A ROAD NEAR THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT FILED A PARTIAL AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT REPORT WITHOUT A STATEMENT. (-23) PILOT TOOK OFF AND UPON REACHING THE END OF THE RUNWAY HE REALIZES THA THE GUST LOCK PIN IS INSTALLED. PILOT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE IT BUT DID NOT SUCCEED AND THE A/C IMPACTED THE GROUND 440 FEET FROM THE END OF RUNWAY 32L.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.