Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot’s failure to secure his seat position prior to takeoff, which resulted in a loss of airplane control and subsequent hard landing.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On September 12, 2018, at 0810 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172 airplane, N24ME, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Roche Harbor, Washington. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 positioning flight.
According to the pilot, just prior to takeoff, he adjusted his seat and “wiggled it” to ensure it was locked. During the takeoff roll, the seat moved all the way aft, and the pilot was not able to reach the throttle or the rudder pedals. The airplane veered to the left and lifted off the ground. Shortly after, the tail struck the ground, followed by the left wing, and the airplane came to rest on its nose.
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector responded to the accident site. The FAA inspector observed the pilot’s seat in the farthest aft position with the stops engaged in the aft holes. He further reported that the seat moved freely in both directions, to each stop, with no binding encountered. Additionally, there was proper hole engagement with the seat pin and holes in the seat rail; the seat did not move once the stop was engaged with the hole.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR18LA259