# NTSB ERA20CA269: Cessna 172, N6705E, Hudson, NY, July 29, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 29, 2020, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Hudson, NY - Coordinates: 42.291389, -73.710281 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2914&lon=-73.7103&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101714 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA269 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101714/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101714 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA269 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with vegetation. ## 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: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 81 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot, who had not flown for the three months preceding the accident, was flying the airplane for the first time since its annual inspection had been completed. Following an uneventful preflight inspection and flight to another airport, he landed the airplane at a third airport and back-taxied for departure. After traveling a short down the distance down the runway during the takeoff, the pilot reported that the airplane began yawing to the left. The pilot attempted to compensate for the left yaw by applying right rudder, but the left yaw continued. He then applied full right rudder but was unable to center the airplane and it departed the left side of the runway. The pilot then reduced engine power as the airplane proceed over the downward sloping terrain off the side of the runway and into an area of dense vegetation and small trees. The airplane came to rest in the vegetation and both wings and the forward portion of the fuselage were substantially damaged. A postaccident examination of the airplane’s ailerons, rudder, and brake systems revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the wind was light and variable about the time of the accident. Given this information, it is likely that the pilot lost directional control of the airplane during the takeoff attempt, which resulted in a runway excursion. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6705E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6705E-2021-04-27), registration cancelled 2021-04-27, S/N 17272053, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 (N) - 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: 17272053 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 3967 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 27, 2020 - Departed: 1B1, Hudson, NY - Destination: 1B1, Hudson, NY - Airport: 1B1, Columbia County, runway 21, 5,350 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 87; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, unknown; last flight review October 31, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,950 total, 3,870 in this make and model, 3,950 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 5.3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: PSF, 21 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 20200729016799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200729016799A), Jul 29, 2020: Cessna 172N, Hudson, NY, Substantial damage. 07/29/2020 A Cessna 172 N6705E, during take-off at the Columbia County Airport in Hudson, NY. The aircraft veered to the left hitting trees along left side of… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 15, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101714. 4.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10055490&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilots%206120_Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation_FAA (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10054624&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_FAA-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation_pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10055575&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_Pilot-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record_eyewitness email (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 126 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10057008&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-%20Eyewitness%20email_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation_eyewitness (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10024194&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_Eyewitness-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record_maintenance examination (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 104 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10035267&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-Maintenance%20Examination_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Operating handbook excerpt_performance (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 26 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10057156&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Cessna-172N-POH%2042-Rel.pdf - Photo array_accident site and airplane damage (item 8, PDF, 7 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10044881&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Site%20and%20Damage%20Photographs-Rel.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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.