# NTSB CHI01LA051: Cessna 172M, N13584, Sturgis, SD, December 19, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 19, 2000, 13:20 local (20:20 UTC) - Place: Sturgis, SD - Coordinates: 44.40942, -103.50946 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4094&lon=-103.5095&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 1, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50813 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI01LA051 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50813/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA051 ## Probable cause The pilot failed to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff and he discontinued an aborted takeoff once initiated. Factors associated with the accident were the inaccurate elevator trim indicator, the pilot's failure to verify the trim setting, rotation was restricted, directional control was not maintained, and the berm which the airplane contacted. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - flt control syst,elevator trim indicator - inaccurate (contributing factor) - elevator trim - not verified, pilot in command (contributing factor) - rotation - restricted (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - aborted takeoff - discontinued, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - landing gear,nose gear assembly - overload - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, other - terrain condition - berm (contributing factor) - Nose gear collapsed, other - landing gear,nose gear assembly - overload ## Analysis The airplane impacted the terrain following a loss of control during takeoff. The pilot reported that during his preflight, he noticed the elevator trim was set "all the way to the bottom", so he set it for takeoff. The pilot completed the aircraft preflight, started the engine, and taxied to the runway for takeoff. The pilot stated that during the takeoff roll at 75 to 80 miles per hour, he "slowly pulled back on the control wheel and the plane would not lift off. After the midfield point it still would not lift off. So I proceeded to pull power at which time it lifted up and came back down and bounced one more time before I pushed in power." He reported the airplane went off the right side of the runway and flew over the runway and approach lights before it impacted the terrain and the nose gear collapsed. Inspection of the airplane revealed the elevator trim tab and the cockpit trim indicator were not consistent with each other. When the pilot aligned the indicator for a takeoff setting, the actual trim surface was in a full nose down position. ## Factual narrative On December 19, 2000, at 1320 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172M, N13584, collided with the terrain following a loss of control on takeoff from runway 29 (4,600 feet by 60 feet) at the Sturgis Municipal Airport, Sturgis, South Dakota. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 local flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that upon arriving at the airport, he discovered that the airplane he was going to fly had snow on the wings. He reported he removed the snow from the wings, checked the weather, and performed his preflight inspection. The pilot reported that during his preflight, he noticed the elevator trim was set "all the way to the bottom", so he set it for takeoff. The pilot completed the aircraft preflight, started the engine, and taxied to runway 29 for takeoff. The pilot stated that during the takeoff roll at 75 to 80 miles per hour, he "slowly pulled back on the control wheel and the plane would not lift off. After the midfield point it still would not lift off. So I proceeded to pull power at which time it lifted up and came back down and bounced one more time before I pushed in power." He reported the airplane went off the right side of the runway and flew over the runway and approach lights before it impacted the terrain. The pilot reported the nose gear impacted a berm and the nose gear collapsed prior to the airplane coming to rest. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration, Rapid City, South Dakota, Flight Standards District Office inspected the airplane after the accident. The inspector reported that the elevator trim tab and the cockpit trim indicator were not consistent with each other. He reported that when the pilot aligned the indicator for a takeoff setting, the actual trim surface was in a full nose down position. The trim indicator malfunction was not written up in the aircraft discrepancy log that is kept by the flying club which owns the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N13584](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N13584-2017-10-06), registration cancelled 2017-10-06, S/N 17262858, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 62858 - Airframe hours: 5367 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Bear Butte Flying Club - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 49B - Airport: K49B, Sturgis Municipal, runway 29, 4,600 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 176 total, 9 in this make and model, 122 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: RAP, 30 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 20001219042929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001219042929A), Dec 19, 2000: Cessna 172M, Sturgis, SD, Substantial damage. (-23) After setting the airplane's elevator trim control wheel to the take-off setting, in the before take-off checklist, the pilot initiated a normal take-off… ## Other investigations on N13584 (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 CEN12LA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA059), Nov 11, 2011: Cessna 172M (N13584), Sturgis, SD, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The student pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff with extended flaps. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.