# NTSB CEN20LA372: Cessna 414, N698D, Ray, MI, August 30, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 30, 2020, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Ray, MI
- Coordinates: 42.736752, -82.888838
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7368&lon=-82.8888&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA- East Michigan FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 101891
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20LA372
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101891/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101891
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA372

## Probable cause

The pilot’s loss of directional control on takeoff.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 414, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2075908), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 414, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2075908), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 414, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2075908), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 414, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2075908), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 414, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2075908), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that the preflight, taxi, and run-up were normal and that the brakes of the twin-engine airplane operated normally. He reported that during takeoff, the airplane suddenly veered to the right, which he attempted to counteract with left rudder input. He ultimately decided to abort the takeoff, but, according to the pilot, the airplane was already partially in the grass. It travelled through the grass, turned 90° to the left, and the landing gear collapsed. A pilot-rated witness reported seeing the airplane taxi onto the runway and that the airplane did not use the displaced threshold as available runway for takeoff. The airplane stopped on the runway and then the engines went to full power. During the takeoff roll, the airplane veered left, then overcorrected to the right, at which time the airplane was going to exit the runway. The airplane became airborne and attempted to fly in ground effect with the wings “wallowing near stall.” One wing dropped and the airplane impacted the ground. The fuselage sustained substantial damage. Examination of the airplane was limited due to impact damage; however, there were no preimpact anomalies noted that would have precluded normal operations. Based on the available information, the pilot lost directional control of the airplane during takeoff.

## Factual narrative

On August 30, 2020, about 1200 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 414 airplane, N698D, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Ray Community Airport (57D), near Ray, Michigan. The pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to reposition the airplane for an annual inspection and installation of automatic dependent surveillance – broadcast (ADS-B), equipment. The preflight inspection and engine run-up were normal, and the brakes operated normally during taxi. The pilot stated that he gently applied full power, everything seemed good, and the airplane started to slowly accelerate. He stated that about a third of the way down the runway, about 50 mph, the airplane suddenly started to steer right, which he attempted to counteract with left rudder input. His heels were on the floor to avoid inadvertent brake application during takeoff. After another 1-2 seconds, he decided to abort the takeoff; he applied the brakes and shut down the engines. At this time, the airplane was already partially in the grass. The airplane traveled into the grass, turned 90º to the left, and the landing gear collapsed. A witness, who was a pilot with multiengine experience, including experience in twin engine Cessna airplanes, reported seeing the airplane taxi onto runway 28 for departure. He noted that the airplane did not use the displaced threshold as available runway for the takeoff, and it taxied up past the end of the displaced threshold. He reported that the airplane then stopped on the runway and the engines went to full power. The airplane accelerated and started to veer to the left and then overcorrected to the right at which point it was going to exit the runway. The nose of the airplane came up and the airplane attempted to fly in ground effect with both wings “wallowing near stall.” One wing eventually dropped, and the airplane pancaked sideways near the end of runway 28 in the grass field. The airplane sustained substantial damage including crush damage to its forward fuselage and separation of the nose landing gear. A comprehensive determination of the airplane’s mechanical integrity prior to the accident could not be determined due to the damage to the damage to the forward fuselage and nose landing gear; however, no apparent pre-impact defects were noted.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N698D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N698D-2021-07-31), registration cancelled 2021-07-31, S/N 414-0046, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 414 (Undesignat)
- Registry model: [Cessna 414](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-414) (registry code 2075908) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 414-0046
- Year built: 1970
- Engines: Continental IO 520 SERIES 285 horsepower reciprocating; Continental IO 520 SERIES 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Destination: PTK, Pontiac, MI
- Airport: 57D, Ray Community, runway 28, 2,495 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 527.95 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observed at: MTC, 8 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20200830019299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200830019299A), Aug 30, 2020: Cessna 414, Ray, MI, Substantial damage. This was a reposition flight. The pilot entered runaway 28 for departure, advanced the throttles and approximately 1/3 down the runway the aircraft veered…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 29, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101891. 1.6 MB in all.

- Pilot statement (item 1, PDF, 4 pages, 799 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11832920&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Witness statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 429 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11826935&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Weather information (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11826401&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Weather%20info%20KMTC-Rel.pdf
- Photograph of accident airplane (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 151 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11826105&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%201-Rel.pdf
- Record of conversation with FAA inspector (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 114 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14099878&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=RECORD%20OF%20CONVERSATION-Rel.pdf

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.

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