N888VM – CESSNA 177B – 2010-12-07 NTSB Accident Report

On December 07, 2010, a Cessna 177B (N888VM) was involved in an incident near Seymour, IN. All 3 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while taking off with a gusting wind.

According to the pilot, during the takeoff from snow-covered runway 17 at a private airstrip, the airplane encountered a wind gust, and the airplane struck a fence on the east side of the runway. The pilot elected to continue the takeoff, and the airplane landed uneventfully at another airport located approximately 5 miles from the private airstrip. The pilot reported the winds were from 270 degrees at 10 knots and gusting to 15 knots. The Federal Aviation Administration was notified of the accident by an anonymous caller on December 21, 2010. Examination of the airplane revealed the outboard 8 to 10 inches of the left stabilator was separated.

This incident is documented in NTSB report CEN11CA123. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N888VM.