N65747 – CESSNA 172P – 2012-08-23 NTSB Accident Report

On August 23, 2012, a Cessna 172P (N65747) was involved in an incident near Lyman, MS. All 1 person 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 loss of directional control during takeoff as a result of his attempt to close an unsecured cockpit window.

The private pilot reported that he was conducting his initial takeoff when the window on the cockpit door came open. He reached with his left hand to close the window and simultaneously tried to abort the takeoff. When he looked up, he observed the airplane departing the left side of the runway. He was unable to stop the airplane before it collided with perimeter trees. According to an inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration, the airframe was damaged, including a buckled engine firewall. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.

This incident is documented in NTSB report ERA12CA531. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N65747.