- Date
- March 30, 2013, 13:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place
- Bally, PA
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N4601DCessna 172N
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 4, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20130330004879A
- Case key
- 86552
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 directional control during the takeoff roll.
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
The pilot reported that he was departing on runway 34 with three passengers and that he had conducted an engine run-up before takeoff and all systems were working properly. He taxied the airplane onto the runway and initiated the takeoff roll. As he pulled back the control yoke, the airplane began to drift to the left, and he was unable to correct the drift. He did not regain control of the airplane, and it exited the runway. The airplane rolled into a grove of pine trees and sustained substantial damage to the tail section and right wing. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he was departing on runway 34 with three passengers. He said that he conducted an engine run-up prior to takeoff and all systems were working properly. He taxied the airplane onto the runway and initiated the takeoff roll. As he pulled back the control yoke, the airplane began to drift to the left, and he was unable to correct the drift. He did not regain control of the airplane and it exited the runway. The airplane rolled into a grove of pine trees, and sustained substantial damage to the tail section and right wing. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4601D
- Reported as
- Cessna 172N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17272312
- Airframe hours
- 8,730
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A4M, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Aero-Tech Services
- Registered owner
- Aero-Tech Services
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · March 20, 2013 · 16 hours before
- Departed
- 7N8 · Bally, PA
- Destination
- LNS · Lancaster, PA
- Airport
- 7N8 · Butter Valley Airport, runway 34, 2,420 × 85 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
- 23
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 14, 2013
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 48 total · 48 in this make and model · 10 as pilot in command · 9 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 54 °F, dew point 3 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.17 inHg
- Observed at
- LNS
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 10, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.2 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.