- Date
- August 15, 2024, 19:15 local (23:15 UTC)
- Place
- Elkwood, VA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N8400XCessna 172
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- 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
- FAA report
- 20240815011849A
- Case key
- 194986
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 correctly reinstall the airplane’s left seat, resulting in the movement of the seat during the takeoff roll, and the subsequent loss of control and runway excursion.
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 completed two successful takeoffs and landings in the airport traffic pattern and was taking off for a third time when the accident occurred. After the pilot applied takeoff power and the airplane had accelerated forward for less than 75 feet before the pilot’s seat slid back to the aftmost position. The pilot let go of the control yoke to prevent the airplane from pitching upward, but as the airplane continued to accelerate, he was unable to reach the rudder pedals and brakes. The pilot was eventually able to reach the throttle and reduced it to the idle position. The airplane subsequently departed the left side of the runway and came to rest in a ditch, resulting in substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer and elevator. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the pilot’s seat was not correctly installed and that the front left seat rail guide was not engaged with the rail. This resulted in the seat being position too high and prevented complete engagement of the seat adjustment rod. When the seat was adjusted, its position would lock, but when sufficient aft force was applied to the back of the seat, the adjustment rod would disengage and allow the seat to move. The pilot stated that he previously removed and reinstalled the seat to perform preventative maintenance.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8400X
- Reported as
- Cessna 172 (C)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17248900
- Built
- 1961
- Airframe hours
- 2,617
- Engine
- Continental O-300, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 12, 2024 · 1 hours before
- Airport
- CJR · Culpepper Regional Airport, runway 22, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Handheld GPS, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display
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
- 68
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- BasicMed
- Last flight review
- May 17, 2024
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 491 total · 491 in this make and model · 491 as pilot in command · 9 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.06 inHg
- Observed at
- CJR
- METAR
- KCJR 152315Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 28/17 A3006 RMK AO2 T02770172
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 6, 2024, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.8 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.