- Date
- July 10, 2002, 22:33 local (Jul 11, 2002, 02:33 UTC)
- Place
- Pickens, SC
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N737CQCessna 172N
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Status
- Completed · report August 28, 2002
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20020710019879A
- Case key
- 55216
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 improper preflight planning/preparation that resulted in the airplane's gust lock being left installed which resulted in a loss of control during the takeoff roll and damage to the airplane when it exited the departure end of the runway and collided with trees.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated that he had not removed the gust lock and during the takeoff roll, as he was ready to rotate, he noticed the mistake and tried to abort the takeoff, but the airplane continued on exiting the end of the runway and colliding with trees.
Factual narrative
On July 10, 2002, about 2233, eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N737CQ, registered to Two Beagles Inc., and operated by a private individual as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed while attempting to take off at Pickens County Airport, Pickens, South Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The private-rated pilot received no injuries and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot stated that he had rented a Cessna 172 since his airplane was inoperable. He said that when he got into the accident airplane it was dark and he did not see the gust lock. Additionally, he said that his airplane does not have a gust lock so he was not in the habit of using one. He said that during the takeoff roll, as he attempted to pull aft on the control yoke at the rotation point, he noticed that the gust lock was still installed. He said he then tried to abort the takeoff, but the airplane continued along its path and ran down a slope, coming to rest at the trees located about 50 yards beyond the departure end of the runway. The airplane incurred damage to the firewall, the fuselage and the wings.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N737CQ
- Reported as
- Cessna 172N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17269317
- Airframe hours
- 3,193
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-H2AD, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Two Beagles Inc.,
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · May 22, 2002 · 90 hours before
- Departed
- LQK · Pickens, SC
- Destination
- AIK · Aiken, SC
- Airport
- LQK · Pickens County Airport, runway 23, 5,002 × 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
- 61
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- May 14, 2002
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 6,300 total · 200 in this make and model · 6,300 as pilot in command · 42 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Wind
- 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.12 inHg
- Observed at
- CEU
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 7, 2002, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 657 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.