Cessna 172 N6205E

Summary

On 11 August 2023 at about 14:00 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N6205E was involved in an accident near Derby, Kansas, United States. 2 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

11 August 2023 at 14:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Derby, Kansas, United States

Nearest airport

Cook Airfield (K50)

Coordinates

37.5654, -97.1746

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N6205E

Category

Airplane

Year built

1958

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Derby → Derby

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN23LA366

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s loss of directional control during takeoff roll due the passenger’s interference with the rudder pedals, which resulted in a runway excursion.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, the airplane drifted left so he applied right rudder, but the rudder pedals were “jammed” by the passenger in the left seat. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and continued through a culvert, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.