GAA18CA078

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172 · Everett, WA · December 8, 2017

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
December 8, 2017, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC)
Place
Everett, WA
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N4801DCessna 172
Defining event
Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report March 14, 2018
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
General Aviation Accidents
Parties
FAA
FAA report
20171208022839A
Case key
96461

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot’s decision to abort the takeoff following a touch-and-go landing with too little runway remaining, which resulted in a runway overrun.

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.

Aircraft capability: takeoff distanceAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceededCessna 172N: 2 casesAll aircraft: 67 casesProbable cause
Object/animal/substance: fence/fence postEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcomeCessna 172N: 5 casesAll aircraft: 313 cases

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, during takeoff following a touch-and-go landing, the engine gauge readings appeared normal, the airplane lifted off the ground about 65 knots, and he applied nose-down pressure to stay in ground effect. The pilot reported that the airplane was not climbing nor was the airspeed increasing, so he lowered the nose further. He then attempted to climb by pulling back on the yoke and alternately building airspeed by lowering the nose multiple times with negative results. The pilot then reduced power to abort the takeoff. The airplane landed on the remaining runway, overran the end of the runway, and impacted a fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The passenger in the right seat provided a video showing the touch-and-go landing from the right seat looking forward through the windscreen. The instrument panel cannot be seen. During the landing, the airplane touched down about 200 ft beyond the approach end of the 3,004 ft-long runway. The pilot applied takeoff power, the airplane lifted off the runway, and continued in level flight in ground effect. The pitch attitude did not appear excessive, the stall warning horn was not audible, and there were no abnormal sounds from the engine. The pilot then reduced power to abort the takeoff. The airplane touched down near the departure end of the runway, and the camera panned downward for the remainder of the video.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, during takeoff following a touch-and-go landing, the engine gauge readings appeared normal, the airplane lifted off the ground about 65 knots, and he applied nose down pressure to stay in ground effect. The pilot reported that the airplane was not showing indications of a climb nor was the airspeed increasing, so he lowered the nose further. He then attempted to climb by pulling back on the yoke and alternately build airspeed by lowering the nose multiple times with negative results. The pilot then reduced power to abort the takeoff. The airplane landed on the remaining runway, overran the end of the runway, and impacted a fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The passenger in the right seat provided a video showing the touch-and-go landing from the right seat looking forward through the windscreen. The instrument panel cannot be seen. During the landing, the airplane touched down about 200 feet beyond the approach end of the 3,004 ft. long runway. The pilot applied takeoff power, the airplane lifted off the runway, and continued in level flight in ground effect. The pitch attitude did not appear excessive, the stall warning horn was not audible, and there were no abnormal sounds from the engine. The pilot then reduced power to abort the takeoff. The airplane touched down near the departure end of the runway, and the camera panned downward for the remainder of the video.

Aircraft

Registration
N4801D
Reported as
Cessna 172 (N)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17272362
Built
1979
Airframe hours
11,038.7
Engine
Lycoming O-320 SERIES, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · December 1, 2017
Departed
PAE · Everett, WA
Destination
PAE · Everett, WA
Airport
PAE · Snohomish County (Paine Fld), runway 16L, 3,004 × 75 ft, asphalt
Equipment
Satellite tracking device, ADS-B, Stall warning system

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 1, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
October 6, 2017
Seat
Left
Restraint
4-point
Flight hours
72 total · 10 in this make and model · 13 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
330° at 4 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
43 °F, dew point 32 °F
Altimeter
30.45 inHg
Observed at
KPAE

Docket · 3

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 2, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 5.8 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.

Other investigations on N4801D · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.