- Date
- July 22, 2014, 11:20 local (15:20 UTC)
- Place
- Chatham, MA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N1066RCessna 172M
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 2, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Case key
- 89727
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 takeoff, resulting in a runway excursion and collision with trees.
Findings · 3
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
According to the pilot, he was performing a touch-and-go landing to runway 24. He was initially high on final; however, he landed the airplane about 400 feet from the arrival end of the runway. After applying full throttle during the subsequent takeoff, the airplane veered "significantly" to the left. He attempted to regain directional control; however, the airplane departed the left side of the runway, into the grass. He applied wheel brakes and the wheels skidded on the grass until the airplane contacted trees. The airplane then spun around "violently" and came to a stop. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration examined the airplane and confirmed substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
According to the pilot, he was performing a touch-and-go landing to runway 24. He was initially high on final; however, he landed the airplane about 400 feet from the arrival end of the runway. After applying full throttle during the subsequent takeoff, the airplane veered "significantly" to the left. He attempted to regain directional control; however, the airplane departed the left side of the runway, into the grass. He applied wheel brakes and the wheels skidded on the grass until the airplane contacted trees. The airplane then spun around "violently" and came to a stop. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration examined the airplane and confirmed substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1066R
- Reported as
- Cessna 172M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17263020
- Built
- 1974
- Airframe hours
- 4,335
- Engine
- Lycoming 0-320 SERIES, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Ford James C
- Registered owner
- Ford James C
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 15, 2014
- Departed
- CQX · Chatham, MA
- Destination
- CQX · Chatham, MA
- Airport
- CQX · Chatham Municipal, runway 24, 3,001 × 100 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
- 51
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 18, 2014
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 222 total · 119 in this make and model · 145 as pilot in command · 1 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.15 inHg
- Observed at
- CQX
Docket · 7
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 21, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 18.2 MB in all.