Cessna 172N N251ER

Summary

On 14 September 1991 at about 02:36 local time, a Cessna 172N registered N251ER, operated by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Univ, was involved in an accident near Prescott, Arizona, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 September 1991 at 02:36

Classification

Accident

Location

Prescott, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Ernest A. Love Fld. (PRC)

Coordinates

34.6202, -112.4207

Aircraft

Cessna 172N

Registration

N251ER

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Univ

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

LAX91LA396

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS RELATED TO THE DARK, NIGHT LIGHT CONDITION AND TO THE PILOT'S INEXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF NIGHTTIME TAKEOFF OPERATION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE 81.9-HOUR TOTAL TIME, RECENTLY CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT ATTEMPTED A DARK, NIGHTTIME TAKEOFF, ON A 7616 FOOT-LONG BY 150-FOOT WIDE RUNWAY. OVER 30 SECONDS EARLIER A BEECH 1900 AIRPLANE HAD DEPARTED FROM THE SAME RUNWAY. THE PRIVATE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING HIS TAKEOFF ROLL THE AIRPLANE BEGAN SHAKING AND HE FELT 'UNCOMFORTABLE'. THE PILOT APPLIED BRAKES AND RUDDER BUT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A DIRT BANK. THE PILOT'S TOTAL NIGHTTIME PIC FLIGHT EXPERIENCE WAS 3.7 HOURS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.