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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

July 15, 2001 · Cessna 172K · N78254

Wasilla, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 15, 2001
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Wasilla, AK
Aircraft
Cessna 172K
Tail Number
N78254
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC01LA085

The student pilot was departing from a 3,700 feet long, paved runway. During the takeoff roll, about midway down the runway, she felt that the airplane was not going to fly as the airspeed exceeded 70 knots, so she closed the throttle, and applied heavy braking. The airplane veered slightly to the right, continued off the end of the runway, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and engine firewall. An FAA airworthiness inspector traveled to the accident airport and examined the airplane. He reported that he was unable to detect any preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's delay in aborting the takeoff roll.

Full Narrative

On July 14, 2001, about 1630 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Cessna 172K airplane, N78254, sustained substantial damage during an aborted takeoff from the Wasilla Airport, Wasilla, Alaska. The solo student pilot was not injured. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) instructional flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on July 14, the student pilot reported that she was practicing touch-and-go landings, and that she had completed two touch-and-go landings on runway 03. She said that during the second landing, she inadvertently touched down farther down the runway than anticipated, so she elected to perform a full stop landing, taxi back to the end of the runway, and utilize the full length of the 3,700 feet long, paved runway. She said that during the takeoff roll, about midway down the runway, she felt that the airplane was not going to fly as the airspeed exceeded 70 knots, so she closed the throttle, and applied heavy braking. The airplane veered slightly to the right, continued off the end of the runway, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and engine firewall. The airplane was retrieved from the accident site and transported to the parking area. On July 17, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector from the Anchorage Flight Standards District Office, traveled to the accident airport and examined the airplane. He reported that he was unable to detect any preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:30 AKDT
Nearest AirportWASILLA (0nm)
Runway03
Runway Length3700 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172K
Tail NumberN78254
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320 · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 59 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data