Cessna 172M N1401U

Summary

On 27 September 2021 at about 13:30 local time, a Cessna 172M registered N1401U, operated by Loco Panther Aviation LLC, was involved in an accident near Indian Trail, 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

27 September 2021 at 13:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Indian Trail, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Goose Creek (28A)

Coordinates

35.1210, -80.5873

Aircraft

Cessna 172M

Registration

N1401U

Category

Airplane

Year built

1976

Engines

1

Operator

Loco Panther Aviation LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA22LA068

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during takeoff and initial climb. Contributing was the pilot’s physical limitation which caused an inadvertent application of left rudder.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot reported that, shortly after the application of takeoff power, the airplane pulled strongly to the left while on the runway. The pilot attempted to correct with right aileron and rudder; however, shortly after rotation, the airplane climbed at an excessive pitch angle and continued to the left. The pilot lowered the nose to regain some airspeed, but the airplane impacted the ground before coming to rest against the trees bordering the runway. The pilot reported that he recently had knee replacement surgery and was unable to bend his left knee, which caused an inadvertent application of left rudder that could not be overcome during the takeoff and initial climb. This resulted in a loss of airplane control and subsequent impact. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.