- Date
- July 15, 2012, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place
- Lakeview, AR
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N34468Cessna 177B
- Defining event
- Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 9, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA - LIT FSDO
- Case key
- 84342
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 delay in aborting the takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Findings · 1
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
The pilot reported that, although he needed to apply a little more power than normal while taxiing, the engine performed normally during the engine run-up. He stated that the airplane did not gain sufficient groundspeed during the takeoff roll to become airborne, and he waited too long to abort the takeoff. The airplane traveled off the end of the runway and down an embankment, resulting in substantial damage to the aft fuselage. The pilot stated that he did not notice a loss of engine rpm during the takeoff and that he had little experience operating on grass airstrips. A postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any mechanical failure or malfunction that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported the engine performed normally during the engine run-up; although he needed to apply a little more power than normal while taxiing. He stated that the airplane did not gain sufficient groundspeed during the takeoff roll to become airborne and he waited too long to abort the takeoff. The airplane traveled off the end of the runway and down an embankment resulting in substantial damage to the aft fuselage. The pilot stated he did not notice a loss of engine rpm during the takeoff and that he had little experience operating on grass airstrips. The airplane sat outside for two days prior to the accident with the parking brake engaged. The position of the parking brake at the time of the accident and the tire pressure could not be determined during a postaccident examination of the airplane. The examination did not reveal any mechanical failure/malfunction.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N34468
- Reported as
- Cessna 177B (B)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17701825
- Built
- 1972
- Airframe hours
- 2,114
- Engine
- Lycoming O&VO-360 SER, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 4, 2012 · 40 hours before
- Departed
- 3M0 · Lakeview, AR
- Destination
- 7M5 · Ozark, AR
- Airport
- 3M0 · Gastons Airport, runway 24, 3,200 × 55 ft, grass/turf
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 52
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 1, 2011
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 449 total · 449 in this make and model · 449 as pilot in command · 39 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.12 inHg
- Observed at
- SGF, 70 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 8, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 472 KB in all.