Cessna 172K N79054

Summary

On 17 November 2000 at about 14:58 local time, a Cessna 172K registered N79054 was involved in an accident near Hagerstown, Maryland, United States. 4 people were 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

17 November 2000 at 14:58

Classification

Accident

Location

Hagerstown, Maryland, United States

Nearest airport

Hagerstown Regional (HGR)

Coordinates

39.6297, -77.7103

Aircraft

Cessna 172K

Registration

N79054

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC01LA038

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to remove the gust lock from the control column before takeoff, and his failure to abort the takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the takeoff roll, the pilot realized the control wheel lock was still connected to the control wheel and he attempted to remove it with both hands. The airplane then rotated on its own, climbed to about 20 feet and 'crashed straight down' onto the runway. The landing gear nose tire burst, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane proceeded off the departure end of the runway. According to the airplane's operating handbook, the second item on the PREFLIGHT INSPECTION checklist is to remove the control wheel lock. Additionally, the third item on the BEFORE TAKEOFF checklist requires that the flight controls are 'free and correct.' The pilot stated that he did not perform a run-up inspection on the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.