Cessna 172M N73594

Summary

On 3 August 2008 at about 21:00 local time, a Cessna 172M registered N73594 was involved in an accident near Jefferson, North Carolina, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 August 2008 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Jefferson, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Ashe County Airport (GEV)

Coordinates

36.4322, -81.4197

Aircraft

Cessna 172M

Registration

N73594

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC08CA269

1 person had minor injuries.

A loss of directional control during the takeoff roll for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the severity of the event was the descending embankment adjacent to the runway.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The solo student pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings to a full stop in the Cessna 172M on runway 28. He stated that the automated weather station reported winds of 3 to 4 knots from 290 degrees. He completed three takeoffs and landings uneventfully, and taxied back for a fourth departure. The pre-takeoff checks were normal, and the pilot added power for the zero-flap takeoff. When the airplane speed was approximately 45 to 50 knots, the airplane "pulled hard to the left." The pilot aborted the takeoff by retarding the power. The airplane departed the left side of the paved runway surface, skidded through the grass, and descended an embankment, where it rolled over and came to rest inverted. The pilot shut down the airplane, and exited unassisted. There was no fire. The pilot had approximately 26 total hours of flight experience, and approximately 20 hours in the accident airplane. The pilot stated he thought there was a possible mechanical problem with the airplane, like a "detached rudder cable." The Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not examine the airplane for flight control continuity during his on-scene examination. The certificated flight instructor/owner, who was also the mechanic for the airplane, stated that he did not find any mechanical problems with the airplane after the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.