What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On 06-21-02, at approximately 0920, a Cessna 172N, registration N739RS departed rwy 19 at Rutland, VT. The weather was VMC. Upon initial take-off, the PIC, thomas edwards, stated that said aircraft wanted to veer to the left at all times and that he applied considerable rudder pressure to counteract, but the aircraft kept veering to the left. The aircraft traveled approximately 300 ft. veering to the left, the left wing tip scraping taxiway "e", and finally coming to a rest in a culvert covered with stones. The complete nose section, wings and center section received substantial damage and the aircraft was considered destroyed. The PIC was not injured and the one passenger received minor injuries. Initial investigation at the accident scene did not reveal any discrepancies that may have contributed to the problem as stated by the pilot.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON 06-21-02, AT APPROXIMATELY 0920, A CESSNA 172N, REGISTRATION N739RS DEPARTED RWY 19 AT RUTLAND, VT. THE WEATHER WAS VMC. UPON INITIAL TAKE-OFF, THE PIC, THOMAS EDWARDS, STATED THAT SAID AIRCRAFT WANTED TO VEER TO THE LEFT AT ALL TIMES AND THAT HE APPLIED CONSIDERABLE RUDDER PRESSURE TO COUNTERACT, BUT THE AIRCRAFT KEPT VEERING TO THE LEFT. THE AIRCRAFT TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 300 FT. VEERING TO THE LEFT, THE LEFT WING TIP SCRAPING TAXIWAY "E", AND FINALLY COMING TO A REST IN A CULVERT COVERED WITH STONES. THE COMPLETE NOSE SECTION, WINGS AND CENTER SECTION RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS CONSIDERED DESTROYED. THE PIC WAS NOT INJURED AND THE ONE PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. INITIAL INVESTIGATION AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE DID NOT REVEAL ANY DISCREPANCIES THAT MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE PROBLEM AS STATED BY THE 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.