# NTSB ERA13CA137: Cessna 172N, N6249D, Okeechobee, FL, February 18, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: February 18, 2013, 10:45 local (15:45 UTC)
- Place: Okeechobee, FL
- Coordinates: 27.188333, -80.634162 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.1883&lon=-80.6342&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 24, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 86241
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA137
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86241/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86241
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA137

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 82 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 150 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 134 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 44 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot engaged one notch of flaps and applied brakes and full power to initiate a short-field takeoff from a dirt road. Shortly after takeoff, a gust of wind struck the airplane, and the airplane subsequently turned left. The airplane’s nose impacted a barbed wire fence, the right wing struck a tree, and the airplane flipped inverted into a ditch, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot, they were departing a dirt road with open field to the right and barbed wire fence to the left. The pilot engaged one notch of flaps and applied brakes to initiate a short-field takeoff. After leaving the ground, a gust of wind struck the airplane and it subsequently turned to the left. The pilot applied aileron correction; however, the airplane nose impacted a barbed wire fence, the right wing struck a tree and the airplane flipped inverted into a ditch before coming to rest resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that could have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6249D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6249D-2018-06-26), registration cancelled 2018-06-26, S/N 17272664, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17272664
- Airframe hours: 7721
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Reef Flyer LLC
- Registered owner: Reef Flyer LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 7, 2013, 43 hours before
- Departed: None, Okeechobee, FL
- Destination: PMP, Pompano Beach, FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: None, None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 31, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 617 total, 321 in this make and model, 569 as pilot in command, 118 in the last 90 days, 64 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.35 inHg
- Observed at: OBE, 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20130218001449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130218001449A), Feb 18, 2013: Cessna 172N, Okeechobee, FL, Substantial damage. The airman landed on a dirt road at the pine ridge plantation, a hunting club, to the southeast turned around to the northwest and initiated a takeoff in the…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 11, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86241. 8.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40388513&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum of Record - FAA (item 2, .PDF, 26 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40388208&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF
- Memorandum of Record - Witness (item 3, .PDF, 29 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40388209&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Witness-Master.PDF
- Memorandum of Record - Weather (item 4, .PDF, 128 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40388210&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Weather-Master.PDF
- Photo 1: Picture of Airplane at Accident Site (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40388212&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Picture%20of%20Airplane%20at%20Accident%20Site%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2: Picture of Section of Right Wing at Accident Site (Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40388213&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Picture%20of%20Section%20of%20Right%20Wing%20at%20Accident%20Site%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF

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.

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