Summary
On August 03, 2012, a Cessna 172S (N6276Z) was involved in an accident near Culpeper, VA. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during an attempted takeoff.
According to the pilot, the airplane touched down about halfway down the runway. The pilot’s intent was to perform a touch-and-go practice landing and takeoff. He applied takeoff power, retracted the flaps, and the airplane veered to the left. The pilot reported that he was unable to maintain directional control with aileron and rudder control inputs and elected to abort the takeoff. After he reduced power to idle the airplane departed the left side of the runway and continued approximately 100 yards before impacting a row of trees. A witness report corroborates the pilot’s landing description. A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. The examination did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
This accident is documented in NTSB report ERA12CA496. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N6276Z.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during an attempted takeoff.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
According to the pilot, the airplane touched down about halfway down the runway. The pilot’s intent was to perform a touch-and-go practice landing and takeoff. He applied takeoff power, retracted the flaps, and the airplane veered to the left. The pilot reported that he was unable to maintain directional control with aileron and rudder control inputs and elected to abort the takeoff. After he reduced power to idle the airplane departed the left side of the runway and continued approximately 100 yards before impacting a row of trees. A witness report corroborates the pilot’s landing description. A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. The examination did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. In a phone interview the accident the pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that precluded normal operation.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA12CA496