- Date
- July 28, 2019, 15:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place
- Mt. Sterling, KY
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N9548WCessna 172
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 16, 2020
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20190728012849A
- Case key
- 99975
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 loss of directional control during the takeoff roll due to distraction by the passenger window being unsecured, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a runway distance marker. Contributing to the accident was pilot’s failure to ensure that the passenger window was secured.
Findings · 5
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 left the windows open while completing the Start-up checklist and while taxiing to the runway. During the takeoff roll, he noticed that the passenger window was unsecured. While attempting to secure the window, he momentarily took his eyes off the runway. As he looked back at the runway, the airplane was traveling to the left side of the runway. With insufficient runway to correct direction, the airplane impacted a runway distance marker sign. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The private pilot reported that he left the windows open while completing the start-up checklist and while taxiing to the runway. During the takeoff roll, he noticed the passenger window was unsecured. In his attempt to secure the window, he momentarily took his eyes off the runway. As he looked back, the airplane was traveling to the left side of the runway. With insufficient room to correct direction, the airplane collided with a runway distance marker sign. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9548W
- Reported as
- Cessna 172 (R)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17280512
- Built
- 1999
- Engine
- Lycoming IO360, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- ZH Aviation LLC
- Registered owner
- ZH Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- IOB · Mt. Sterling, KY
- Destination
- IOB · Mt. Sterling, KY
- Airport
- IOB · Mount Sterling-Montgomery Coun, runway 21, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Unknown
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
- 71
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 444 total · 189 in this make and model · 2.7 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.19 inHg
- Observed at
- KIOB, 1 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 31, 2020, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 253 KB 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.