What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On June 12, 2016 at approximately 1630 MDT (2230Z) a Cessna 172N sustained substantial damage to the propeller, left aileron, both wing struts, empennage and both elevators when the pilot lost control on the takeoff roll when he attempted to adjust the seat position causing the seat to roll to the back stop. This caused the pilot to pull back on the yoke which lifted the nose of the aircraft prematurely then veering off the left side of the runway and through a fence at Smithfield Airport (MT65) north of lwt Montana while on a 14 CFR part 91 personal flight. Visual metrological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The commercial pilot was the only person on board and was uninjured.
The flight originated at MT65 and destination was to be bzn mt.
As the FAA filed it
ON JUNE 12, 2016 AT APPROXIMATELY 1630 MDT (2230Z) A CESSNA 172N SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE PROPELLER, LEFT AILERON, BOTH WING STRUTS, EMPENNAGE AND BOTH ELEVATORS WHEN THE PILOT LOST CONTROL ON THE TAKEOFF ROLL WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO ADJUST THE SEAT POSITION CAUSING THE SEAT TO ROLL TO THE BACK STOP. THIS CAUSED THE PILOT TO PULL BACK ON THE YOKE WHICH LIFTED THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT PREMATURELY THEN VEERING OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND THROUGH A FENCE AT SMITHFIELD AIRPORT (MT65) NORTH OF LWT MONTANA WHILE ON A 14 CFR PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT.VISUAL METROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS THE ONLY PERSON ON BOARD AND WAS UNINJURED.
THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT MT65 AND DESTINATION WAS TO BE BZN MT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.