- Date
- December 17, 1995, 10:14 local (15:14 UTC)
- Place
- Patoka, IN
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N9379TCessna 180C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 9, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19951217041519A
- Case key
- 10175
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 maintain control of the airplane during takeoff.
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 pilot reported that approximately 500 feet down the grass runway during the takeoff roll, the airplane seemed to turn to the left. He applied more right rudder and the airplane lifted off. The airplane settled back down to the runway, became airborne again, and then impacted a retaining wall located alongside a highway at the departure end of the runway. The airplane traveled across the highway and hit a fence before coming to rest on a field. The pilot stated that the airplane did not have any mechanical problems, he just lost control and never fully recovered.
Factual narrative
On December 17, 1995, at 1014 eastern standard time, a Cessna 180C, N9379T, piloted by the owner/operator, sustained substantial damage when it collided with a retaining wall and fence during an attempted takeoff from Hull Airport, Patoka, Indiana. The private pilot and passenger reported no injuries. The pleasure flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91 in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The intended destination was Poseyville, Indiana.
The pilot reported that as he added power to start the takeoff roll on runway 18 (2600' x 100'), he applied right rudder. The pilot stated that approximately 500 feet down the grass runway, the airplane seemed to turn to the left. He applied more right rudder and the airplane lifted off. The airplane settled back to the runway, became airborne again and then impacted a retaining wall located along side a highway at the departure end of the runway. The airplane traveled across the highway and hit a fence before coming to rest on a field.
The pilot stated to the FAA that the airplane did not have any mechanical problems, he just lost control and never fully recovered.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9379T
- Reported as
- Cessna 180C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 50879
- Airframe hours
- 4,656
- Engine
- Continental O-470-R, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Ralph E. & Billie D. Koch
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 14, 1995 · 84 hours before
- Departed
- IN30
- Destination
- 92IN · Poseyville, IN
- Airport
- IN30 · Hull Field, runway 36, 2,600 × 100 ft, grass/turf
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
- 62
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 515 total · 92 in this make and model · 408 as pilot in command · 32 in the last 90 days · 19 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 80° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 5,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.