- Date
- April 10, 2002, 04:28 local (09:28 UTC)
- Place
- Appleton, WI
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N733PXCessna 172N
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Status
- Completed · report November 4, 2002
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA-Milwaukee, Wisconsin-FSDO
- FAA report
- 20020410010809A
- Case key
- 54538
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 pilots failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll resulting in the subsequent impact with terrain.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane was substantailly damaged when it impacted terrain after it went off of the left side of the runway during takeoff. The pilot reported that during takeoff, "the aircraft began pulling [to the] left. Executed right rudder inputs to correct. No effect." The airplane subsequently exited the runway. A postaccident examination was conducted. The nose and right main landing gears were torn loose from the airframe. The right wing and horizontal stabilizer were damaged. No anomalies were found with respect to the airplane, or its systems, that could be associated with a pre-impact condition.
Factual narrative
On April 10, 2002, at 0428 central daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N733PX, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain after it went off the left side of runway 21 (7,001 feet by 150 feet, concrete), at the Outagamie County Regional Airport, Appleton, Wisconsin. The airplane was on the takeoff roll at the time of the accident. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions and was not on a flight plan. The intended destination was the Fond Du Lac County Airport, Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin.
The pilot reported that during takeoff, "the aircraft began pulling [to the] left. Executed right rudder inputs to correct. No effect." The airplane subsequently exited the runway.
A postaccident examination was conducted. The nose and right main landing gears were torn loose from the airframe. The right wing and horizontal stabilizer were damaged. No anomalies were found with respect to the airplane, or its systems, that could be associated with a pre-impact condition.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N733PX
- Reported as
- Cessna 172N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17268453
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-H2AD, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- West Bend Air, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- ATW · Appleton, WI
- Destination
- FLD · Fond Du Lac, WI
- Airport
- ATW · Outagamie County, runway 21, 7,001 × 150 ft, concrete
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
- 46
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- June 30, 2000
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 299 total · 284 in this make and model · 236 as pilot in command · 17 in the last 90 days · 16 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Wind
- 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 11,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 39 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.31 inHg
- Observed at
- ATW
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 23, 2002, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 545 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.
Other investigations on N733PX · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.