- Date
- June 1, 2003, 10:32 local (14:32 UTC)
- Place
- Clearwater, FL
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N9758GCessna 172N
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 30, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20030601016049A
- Case key
- 57103
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 maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, which resulted in the airplane departing the runway, and impacting 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
During the takeoff roll the airplane started to yaw to the left. The pilot applied right rudder, but the airplane continued to the left, departed the runway and impacted with an airport sign. An examination of the brakes and the rudder cables revealed no discrepancies.
Factual narrative
On June 1, 2003, about 1032 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N9758G, registered to Four Fox Air Inc., and operated by an individual, impacted with an airport sign during the takeoff roll at the St. Petersburg/Clearwater International Airport, Clearwater, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private-rated pilot-in-command and three passengers reported no injuries. The flight was originating at the time.
According to the pilot he was departing runway 22, had started the takeoff roll, and the airspeed indicator had just started to move, when the airplane started to yaw to the left. He applied right rudder, but the airplane continued to the left, departed the runway and impacted with an airport sign.
According to the FAA inspector, during an interview with the pilot, the pilot told him that he did not recall why the airplane yawed to the left, even after applying full right rudder. The inspector stated that an inspection of the brakes and the rudder cables revealed that they all checked out "satisfactory." In addition, the inspector stated that the pilot was 5 feet 3 inches tall, and that the seat may not have been close enough to get full deflection of the pedal.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9758G
- Reported as
- Cessna 172N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17273635
- Airframe hours
- 7,371
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D2J, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Michael Shapiro
- Registered owner
- Four Fox Air Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · June 22, 2003 · 15 hours before
- Departed
- PIE · St Petersburg/C, FL
- Destination
- Clearwater, FL
- Airport
- PIE · St Petersburg/Clearwater Intl, runway 22, 5,500 × 150 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
- 35
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- May 4, 2003
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 114 total · 28 in this make and model · 57 as pilot in command · 3 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 250° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.95 inHg
- Observed at
- KPIE
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.