- Date
- August 26, 1995, 12:05 local (17:05 UTC)
- Place
- Independence, MO
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N6977HCessna 172M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 6, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950826026049A
- Case key
- 10013
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 failure to perform the pre-takeoff checklist and set the elevator trim tab to the takeoff position.
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
Witnesses observed the airplane lift off and pitch up into a steep deck angle. They said the wings banked left and right about 30 degrees each way before the airplane rolled to the right and descended vertically to the ground. The elevator trim setting was found in the full nose-up position.
Factual narrative
On August 26, 1995, at 1205 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna 172M, N6977H, piloted by a commercial pilot, was destroyed when it collided with the ground shortly after takeoff. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot was seriously injured and the passenger received minor injuries. The flight departed Independence, Missouri, at 1205 cdt.
The pilot said he was unable to recall the events associated with the accident due to his injuries. Witnesses reported observing the airplane lift off the runway and climb to about 75 feet above the ground. They said its wing's banked left and right about 30 degrees in each direction. They said the airplane stalled and rolled to the right, pitched down, and descended vertically until colliding with the ground.
The on-scene investigation revealed control continuity for all three controls, and a full nose up elevator trim tab position. The pilot's seat shoulder harness was found in the stowed position. Examination of N6977H's engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would prevent it from producing power.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6977H
- Reported as
- Cessna 172M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17265676
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Stephen N. Appley
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- 3IP
- Destination
- CCR · Concord, CA
- Airport
- 3IP · Independence Memorial, runway 17, 2,560 × 30 ft, asphalt
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
- 68
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,250 total · 1,500 in this make and model · 2,250 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 16 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 93 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MKC, 12 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.