- Date
- December 6, 2010, 22:30 local (Dec 7, 2010, 03:30 UTC)
- Place
- Seymour, IN
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N888VMCessna 177B
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report May 16, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20101206053969A
- Case key
- 78044
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while taking off with a gusting wind.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
According to the pilot, during takeoff from a snow-covered runway at a private airstrip, the airplane encountered a wind gust before striking a fence on the east side of the runway. The pilot elected to continue the takeoff and the airplane landed uneventfully at another airport approximately 5 miles from the private airstrip. The pilot reported that the wind was from 270 degrees at 10 knots and gusting to 15 knots. Examination of the airplane revealed the outboard 8 to 10 inches of the left stabilator was separated.
Factual narrative
According to the pilot, during the takeoff from snow-covered runway 17 at a private airstrip, the airplane encountered a wind gust, and the airplane struck a fence on the east side of the runway. The pilot elected to continue the takeoff, and the airplane landed uneventfully at another airport located approximately 5 miles from the private airstrip. The pilot reported the winds were from 270 degrees at 10 knots and gusting to 15 knots. The Federal Aviation Administration was notified of the accident by an anonymous caller on December 21, 2010. Examination of the airplane revealed the outboard 8 to 10 inches of the left stabilator was separated.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N888VM
- Reported as
- Cessna 177B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17702021
- Airframe hours
- 3,600
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360 SER, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Green Gregory E
- Registered owner
- Green Gregory E
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 1, 2010
- Departed
- 45IN · North Vernon, IN
- Destination
- SER · Seymour, IN
- Airport
- 45IN · Aerobatic Practice Airport, runway 17, 2,000 × 50 ft, snow
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 49
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 16, 2010
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,950 total · 2,000 in this make and model · 2,950 as pilot in command · 3 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 270° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 19 °F
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 20, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 377 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.