Cessna 172 N6324E

Summary

On 23 June 2005 at about 19:30 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N6324E was involved in an accident near Willis, Michigan, United States. 3 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

23 June 2005 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Willis, Michigan, United States

Coordinates

42.2381, -83.5303

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N6324E

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Willis → Findlay

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI05CA155

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inability to maintain directional control of the airplane due to undetermined reasons. A factor associated with the accident were the trees that the airplane contacted during the aborted takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane collided with trees following a loss of directional control during takeoff. The pilot reported that as he became airborne, the airplane drifted to the right. He stated he attempted to apply rudder to correct for the drift, but it felt as if the rudder was "locked." The pilot aborted the takeoff and landed back on the airstrip. The pilot stated that upon landing, the airplane veered to the left as if the left brake was locked. The airplane was traveling at an airspeed of 35 to 40 miles per hour when it contacted trees along the left side of the airstrip. The pilot reported that the brake was free and the rudder functioned normally when the airplane was removed from the trees. The pilot reported that he believes the front seat passenger, who had never flown in a small airplane, had his feet on the rudders during the takeoff. The front seat passenger stated his feet were flat on the floor during the flight and not on the rudder pedals. Examination of the rudder and brake systems failed to reveal any mechanical failure/malfunction that would have resulted in the loss of directional control.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.