- Date
- May 7, 2012, 16:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place
- Culebra, PR
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N24461Cessna 172R
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 7, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20120507009439A
- Case key
- 83586
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 remove the flight control lock before takeoff.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
After doing an engine runup the pilot taxied onto the runway and started his takeoff roll. During the attempted takeoff, the pilot realized that the control wheel would not move aft when he tried to pull back on it. He saw that the flight control lock was still installed, so he attempted to remove it but was not successful. The airplane was approaching the airport perimeter fence, so the pilot aborted the takeoff. The airplane impacted the fence, crossed a road, and struck trees. Postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the airplane’s wings and fuselage. Checklist procedures for the airplane required that the control wheel lock for the airplane be removed during the preflight inspection, and that the flight controls be checked prior to takeoff to ensure free and correct operation before takeoff. However, during a postaccident interview, the pilot stated that he did not use the checklist.
Factual narrative
After doing an engine runup the pilot taxied onto the runway and started his takeoff roll. At approximately 60 knots indicated airspeed he attempted to rotate for takeoff and realized that the control wheel would not move when he attempted to pull back on it. He then observed that the flight control lock was still installed so he attempted to remove it. He pulled on the flight control lock, but it would not come out. He then observed that he was approaching the airport perimeter fence so he shut down the engine and attempted to use the elevator trim to raise the nose. The airplane then impacted the fence, bounced off a road, and struck trees. Post accident examination of the airplane revealed that the wings and fuselage were substantially damaged. Checklist procedures for the airplane required that the control wheel lock for the airplane be removed during the preflight inspection, and the flight controls be checked prior to takeoff, to assure that they were free and correct. However, during a post accident interview the pilot advised that he did not use the checklist.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N24461
- Reported as
- Cessna 172R
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17280968
- Airframe hours
- 4,181
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-L2A, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Isla Grande Flying Sch00l And Service Corporation
- Registered owner
- Flight World Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 3, 2012
- Departed
- TJCP · Culebra, PR
- Destination
- TJVQ · Vieques, PR
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Airport
- TJCP · Benjamin Rivera Noriega, runway 13, 2,600 × 50 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
- 75
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 3, 2012
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 42,452 total · 563 in this make and model · 38,952 as pilot in command · 96 in the last 90 days · 32 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 10° at 6 knots
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,400 ft broken
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.86 inHg
- Observed at
- TIST, 18 nm away
Docket · 9
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 30, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 20.6 MB 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.