# Accident 20020710019879A: Cessna 172N, Pickens, SC, July 10, 2002 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: July 10, 2002, 11:33 local time - Place: Pickens, SC - Airport: Pickens County Airport - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 34.8164° N, 82.7047° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8164&lon=-82.7047&mi=10 - Aircraft: N737CQ, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N737CQ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Cessna 172N (registry code 2072434, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N - Reported engine: LYC O320H2AD - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 6,300 total, 700 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA02LA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02LA132) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020710019879A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (-23) THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING TAKE OFF HE REALIZED HE HAD FAILED TO REMOVE THE CONTROL LOCK. HE RAN OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. (.19) ON JULY 10, 2002, ABOUT 1133, EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA 172N, N737CQ, REGISTERED TO TWO BEAGLES INC., AND OPERATED BY A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL AS A TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT CRASHED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF AT PICKENS COUNTY AIRPORT, PICKENS, SOUTH CAROLINA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE PRIVATE-RATED PILOT RECEIVED NO INJURIES AND THE AIRPLANE INCURRED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE FLIGHT WAS ORIGINATING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF WITH THE GUST LOCK STILL INSTALLED, AND THE AIRCRAFT RAN OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY, INTO A DITCH. AN FAA LICENSED MECHANIC WHO ALSO POSSESSES AN INSPECTION AUTHORIZATION RATING, STATED THAT HE EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE, AND IT HAD INCURRED DAMAGE TO THE FIREWALL, FUSELAGE, AND A SPAR. (.4) ON JULY 10, 2002, ABOUT 2233, EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA 172N, N737CQ, REGISTERED TO TWO BEAGLES INC., AND OPERATED BY A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL AS A TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT, CRASHED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF AT PICKENS COUNTY AIRPORT, PICKENS, SOUTH CAROLINA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE PRIVATE-RATED PILOT RECEIVED NO INJURIES AND THE AIRPLANE INCURRED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE FLIGHT WAS ORIGINATING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD RENTED A CESSNA 172 SINCE HIS AIRPLANE WAS INOPERABLE. HE SAID THAT WHEN HE GOT INTO THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE IT WAS DARK AND HE DID NOT SEE THE GUST LOCK. ADDITIONALLY, HE SAID THAT HIS AIRPLANE DOES NOT HAVE A GUST LOCK SO HE WAS NOT IN THE HABIT OF USING ONE. HE SAID THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, AS HE ATTEMPTED TO PULL AFT ON THE CONTROL YOKE AT THE ROTATION POINT, HE NOTICED THAT THE GUST LOCK WAS STILL INSTALLED. HE SAID HE THEN TRIED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF, BUT THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED ALONG ITS PATH AND RAN DOWN A SLOPE, COMING TO REST AT THE TREES LOCATED ABOUT 50 YARDS BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE INCURRED DAMAGE TO THE FIREWALL, THEFUSELAGE AND THE WINGS. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB MIA02LA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02LA132), Jul 11, 2002: Cessna 172N (N737CQ), Pickens, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper preflight planning/preparation that resulted in the airplane's gust lock being left installed which resulted in a loss of control during the takeoff roll and damage to the… ## Other reports on N737CQ (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 19790606014809I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790606014809I), Jun 6, 1979: Cessna 172N (N737CQ), New Cumberland, PA, Minor damage. Landed on the nose gear, damaging tire, wheel cover and prop From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.