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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

December 30, 2004 · Cessna 172R · N9962F

Smoketown, PA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 30, 2004
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury), 3 uninjured
Location
Smoketown, PA
Aircraft
Cessna 172R
Tail Number
N9962F
Operator
Aero-Tech Services
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC05LA034

The pilot boarded three passengers, and taxied to a 2,400-foot-long, 50-foot-wide, asphalt runway. The pilot initiated a takeoff roll, and rotated the airplane at 55 knots, but it did not become airborne. The airplane veered left and traveled off the left side of the runway. The pilot applied right rudder and brake, but the airplane continued left and struck a parked airplane. The airplane then struck a fence and two parked vehicles before coming to rest upright in an adjacent parking lot. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff, which resulted in a collision with a parked airplane.

Full Narrative

On December 30, 2004, about 1235 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172R, N9962F, was substantially damaged during takeoff at Smoketown Airport (S37), Smoketown, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot and two passengers were not injured, while one passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that he received his private pilot certificate in July, 2004, and had accumulated about 64 hours of total flight experience. On December 28, the pilot received a 1.4-hour "check-out" flight in the accident airplane. On December 29, the pilot received a .7-hour "check-out" flight in the accident airplane, and was then authorized to rent the airplane. On the day of the accident, the pilot boarded three passengers, and taxied to runway 28; a 2,400-foot-long, 50-foot-wide, asphalt runway. The pilot initiated a takeoff roll, and rotated the airplane at 55 knots, but it did not become airborne. The airplane veered left and traveled off the left side of the runway. The pilot applied right rudder and brake, but the airplane continued left and struck a parked airplane. The airplane then struck a fence and two parked vehicles before coming to rest upright in an adjacent parking lot. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any. The reported wind at an airport about 7 miles northwest of the accident site, at 1253, was from 090 degrees at 3 knots.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:35 EST
Nearest AirportSmoketown Airport (0nm)
Runway28
Runway Length2400 ft
Runway Width50 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172R
Tail NumberN9962F
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorAero-Tech Services
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360 · Reciprocating · 160
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury), 3 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured3
Total4
Crew 1Age 26 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind90° @ 3 kt
Visibility4 sm
CeilingOvercast 3400 ft
Temperature / Dew Point43 C / 34 C
Altimeter30.43 inHg
Observation Time17:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data