What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On 5/23/15 privacy data omitted was the pilot in command of N9959V (C-172M). privacy data omitted Had flown into Sussex Airport (kfwn) from the alexandria airport (N85)to visit relatives. After shutdown, privacy data omitted installed a "bolt" (make shift gust lock) which was not marked or flagged to clearly identify that the controls were locked.
At approximately 1400 local time, privacy data omitted returned to the Sussex Airport so as to complete the flight back to the alexandria airport (N85). privacy data omitted Stated that he was in a rush and distracted and did not complete a "real walk around." He also stated that the checklist was not used during the start up/taxi/before takeoff process. During the takeoff roll, privacy data omitted recognized that the "bolt" remained installed and the controls were still locked. privacy data omitted Attempted to unlock the controls and as a result lost control of the aircraft. The aircraft slid off the runway and into the grass and at that time privacy data omitted aborted the takeoff. The aircraft impacted a number of trees along side of the runway before coming to a stop.
privacy data omitted Was not wearing a shoulder harness (which was installed in the aircraft) and was injured during the accident. privacy data omitted Had some bruising and required stictches on his forehead.
Aircraft has substantial damage.
As the FAA filed it
ON 5/23/15 ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS THE PILOT IN COMMAND OF N9959V (C-172M). ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ HAD FLOWN INTO SUSSEX AIRPORT (KFWN) FROM THE ALEXANDRIA AIRPORT (N85)TO VISIT RELATIVES. AFTER SHUTDOWN, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ INSTALLED A "BOLT" (MAKE SHIFT GUST LOCK) WHICH WAS NOT MARKED OR FLAGGED TO CLEARLY IDENTIFY THAT THE CONTROLS WERE LOCKED.
AT APPROXIMATELY 1400 LOCAL TIME, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ RETURNED TO THE SUSSEX AIRPORT SO AS TO COMPLETE THE FLIGHT BACK TO THE ALEXANDRIA AIRPORT (N85). ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED THAT HE WAS IN A RUSH AND DISTRACTED AND DID NOT COMPLETE A "REAL WALK AROUND." HE ALSO STATED THAT THE CHECKLIST WAS NOT USED DURING THE START UP/TAXI/BEFORE TAKEOFF PROCESS. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ RECOGNIZED THAT THE "BOLT" REMAINED INSTALLED AND THE CONTROLS WERE STILL LOCKED. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ ATTEMPTED TO UNLOCK THE CONTROLS AND AS A RESULT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT SLID OFF THE RUNWAY AND INTO THE GRASS AND AT THAT TIME ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ ABORTED THE TAKEOFF. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A NUMBER OF TREES ALONG SIDE OF THE RUNWAY BEFORE COMING TO A STOP.
^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS NOT WEARING A SHOULDER HARNESS (WHICH WAS INSTALLED IN THE AIRCRAFT) AND WAS INJURED DURING THE ACCIDENT. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ HAD SOME BRUISING AND REQUIRED STICTCHES ON HIS FOREHEAD.
AIRCRAFT HAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.