# NTSB MIA04CA005: Cessna 172N, N933JH, Everglades City, FL, October 19, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 19, 2003, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Everglades City, FL - Coordinates: 25.848611, -81.389999 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.8486&lon=-81.3900&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Miami, Florida - NTSB case key (mKey): 58196 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA04CA005 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58196/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA04CA005 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper preflight planning/preparation which resulted in the airplane's gust lock being left installed, which resulted in the airplane not being able lift off during the takeoff roll, and damage to the airplane when it overran the runway and crashed into the water at the end of the runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, takeoff - roll/run - aircraft preflight - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - checklist - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - removal of control/gust lock(s) - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - lift-off - not possible - aborted takeoff - attempted, pilot in command - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - water ## Analysis The pilot stated to the NTSB that he was trying to takeoff and when he was about 1/4 of the distance from the end of the runway he attempted to pull back on the control yoke and lift off, but nothing happened. He said that at the time he noticed that the airspeed was about 60 knots, but yet he could not raise the nose of the airplane, so he applied the brakes in an attempt to stop, and the airplane departed off the end of the runway. He stated, he did not remove the control lock prior to flight, and added that prior to the accident there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane or any of its systems. ## Factual narrative On October 19, 2003, about 1130 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N933JH, registered to, and operated by Executive Aircrafts Inc., as a Title 14 CFR part 91 personal flight, ran off the end of the runway during takeoff at Everglades Airport, Everglades City, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The private-rated pilot received minor injuries, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated to the NTSB that he was trying to take off from Everglades City Airport, and when he was about 1/4 of the distance from the end of the runway he attempted to pull back on the control yoke and lift off, but nothing happened. He said that at the time he noticed that the airspeed was about 60 knots, but yet he could not raise the nose of the airplane, so he applied the brakes in an attempt to stop, and the airplane went off the end of the runway. He stated, "to make a long story short, what I did was that I did not remove the control lock from the yoke." According to the pilot, prior to the accident, there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N933JH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N933JH-2005-03-23), registration cancelled 2005-03-23, S/N 17269562, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17269562 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Executive Aircrafts Inc., - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Departed: X01, Everglades City, FL - Destination: OPF, Miami, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 28, 2002; flight hours: 120 total, 36 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: APF ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20031019026569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031019026569A), Oct 19, 2003: Cessna 172N, Everglades, FL, Destroyed. (-23) In a statement on October 21, 2003, the pilot stated he attempted to take off with the control lock installed in the pilots yoke. [privacy data omitted] From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.