- Date
- June 12, 2005, 19:00 local (Jun 13, 2005, 00:00 UTC)
- Place
- Madison, WI
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N6454JCessna 172N
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 27, 2005
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20050612024619A
- Case key
- 61954
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 improper pre-flight which resulted in the control lock not being removed and his subsequent inability to control the airplane. The unmarked control lock and the FBO's failure to replace the unmarked control lock were factors in the accident.
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 rental airplane was damaged when it struck the runway during takeoff. The pilot stated that he had pre-flighted the rental airplane and was issued a takeoff clearance. He stated that during the takeoff, the airplane became airborne and then subsequently struck the ground. He stated that the airplane became airborne a second time and again struck the ground. The pilot stated that at this time, he reduced power and held the brakes. The airplane struck the ground again and came to a halt. An examination of the airplane subsequent to the accident revealed that the control gust lock was still installed. The warning flag for the gust lock was broken off.
Factual narrative
On June 12, 2005, about 1900 central daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N6454J, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during takeoff at the Dane County Regional Airport, Madison, Wisconsin. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.
In a written statement, the pilot stated that he had pre-flighted the rental airplane and was issued a takeoff clearance. He stated that during the takeoff, he applied full power and upon reaching 70 knots he began to pull back on the yoke. He said that the airplane became airborne and then subsequently struck the ground. He stated that the airplane became airborne a second time and again struck the ground. The pilot stated that at this time, he reduced power and held the brakes. The airplane struck the ground again and came to a halt.
A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector examined the airplane subsequent to the accident. The Inspector determined that the airplane had received substantial damage due to damage to the engine firewall. The inspector also found that the control gust lock was still installed. He noted that the warning flag for the gust lock was broken off.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6454J
- Reported as
- Cessna 172N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17273875
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-H2AD, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Wisconsin Aviation Four Lakes Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- MSN · Madison, WI
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 20
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3
- Flight hours
- 103 total · 52 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.