# NTSB CHI05CA155: Cessna 172, N6324E, Willis, MI, June 23, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 23, 2005, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Willis, MI - Coordinates: 42.238056, -83.530281 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2381&lon=-83.5303&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Belleville, MI FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 61792 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI05CA155 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61792/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05CA155 ## Probable cause The pilot's inability to maintain directional control of the airplane due to undetermined reasons. A factor associated with the accident were the trees that the airplane contacted during the aborted takeoff. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - aborted - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane collided with trees following a loss of directional control during takeoff. The pilot reported that as he became airborne, the airplane drifted to the right. He stated he attempted to apply rudder to correct for the drift, but it felt as if the rudder was "locked." The pilot aborted the takeoff and landed back on the airstrip. The pilot stated that upon landing, the airplane veered to the left as if the left brake was locked. The airplane was traveling at an airspeed of 35 to 40 miles per hour when it contacted trees along the left side of the airstrip. The pilot reported that the brake was free and the rudder functioned normally when the airplane was removed from the trees. The pilot reported that he believes the front seat passenger, who had never flown in a small airplane, had his feet on the rudders during the takeoff. The front seat passenger stated his feet were flat on the floor during the flight and not on the rudder pedals. Examination of the rudder and brake systems failed to reveal any mechanical failure/malfunction that would have resulted in the loss of directional control. ## Factual narrative On June 23, 2005, at 1530 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N6324E, operated by a private pilot collided with trees following a loss of directional control during takeoff. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot reported he was taking off on runway 09 (2,000 feet by 75 feet, grass) at the Downwind Acres private airstrip when the accident occurred. He stated that as he became airborne, the airplane drifted to the right. He stated he attempted to apply rudder to correct for the drift, but it felt as if the rudder was "locked." The pilot aborted the takeoff and landed back on the airstrip. The pilot stated that upon landing, the airplane veered to the left as if the left brake was locked. The airplane was traveling at an airspeed of 35 to 40 miles per hour when it contacted trees along the left side of the airstrip. The pilot reported that the brake was free and the rudder functioned normally when the airplane was removed from the trees. The pilot reported that he believes the front seat passenger, who had never flown in a small airplane, had his feet on the rudders during the takeoff. The front seat passenger was interviewed by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration Flight Standards District Office in Belleville, Michigan. The inspector reported that the passenger stated his feet were flat on the floor during the flight and not on the rudder pedals. The inspector stated that he also examined the rudder and brake systems on the airplane and he did not identify any failure/malfunction that would have resulted in the loss of directional control. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6324E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6324E-2013-10-24), registration cancelled 2013-10-24, S/N 46424, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 46424 - Engines: Continental O-300A reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ronald J. Gasper - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PVT, Willis, MI - Destination: Findlay, OH ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 146 total, 146 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: YIP ## 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 20050623024589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050623024589A), Jun 23, 2005: Cessna 172, Willis, MI, Substantial damage. (-23) I/a/w the information provided by the pilot [privacy data omitted] during the take-off (turf, rnwy 6) the aircraft started drifting to the right. He then… 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.