# Accident 20150523006509A: Cessna 172M, Sussex, NJ, May 23, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 23, 2015, 14:00 local time
- Place: Sussex, NJ
- Airport: Sussex Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.2006° N, 74.6228° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2006&lon=-74.6228&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9959V, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9959V-2015-10-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172M (registry code 2072418, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 800 total, 500 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA15CA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA088) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150523006509A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

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.

## 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 GAA15CA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA088), May 23, 2015: Cessna 172M (N9959V), Sussex, NJ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to remove the gust lock during the preflight inspection, resulting in a loss of control and collision with trees during takeoff.

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.

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