# Accident 20190728012849A: Cessna 172R, Mt Sterling, KY, July 28, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 28, 2019, 15:45 local time
- Place: Mt Sterling, KY
- Airport: Mt Sterling
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.0581° N, 83.9794° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0581&lon=-83.9794&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9548W, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9548W) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172R (registry code 2072401, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172R
- Reported engine: LYCOMING I0360 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 444 total, 189 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA19CA472](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA472) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190728012849A

## Narrative

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

PREFLIGHTED CESSNA N9548W A 1999 CESSNA 172R. FOLLOWING MY CHECKLIST THROUGH ENGINE START, LEAVING WINDOWS OPEN AS IT WAS A HOT AFTERNOON. TAXIED AIRCRAFT TO RUNWAY 21 POSITIONED FOR TAKE OFF CHECKLIST AND RUN-UP. CHECKLIST COMPLETED, MADE RADIO CALL FOR DEPARTURE RUNWAY 21 VISUALLY CHECKED FOR INCOMING TRAFFIC, TAXIED INTO POSITION FOR TAKE OFF, ADVANCED TO FULL THROTTLE, AND STARTED TAKE OFF ROLL. NOTICED PASSENGER WINDOW WAS OPEN. REACHED ACROSS TO CLOSE WINDOW MOMENTARILY TAKING EYES OFF OF THE RUNWAY. WHEN FOCUSED BACK ON THE RUNWAY WERE HEADED OFF OF RUNWAY 21 TO THE LEFT, A RUNWAY DISTANCE SIGN WAS IN FRONT OF AIRCRAFT APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET, NOT ENOUGH SPACE TO AVOID THE SIGN. AFTER STRIKING RUNWAY SIGN TAXIED BACK TO FBO TO REPORT AND ACCESS 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 GAA19CA472](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA472), Jul 28, 2019: Cessna 172 (N9548W), Mt. Sterling, KY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of directional control during the takeoff roll due to distraction by the passenger window being unsecured, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a runway distance…

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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