Cessna 172C N1301Y

Summary

On 4 September 2007 at about 01:06 local time, a Cessna 172C registered N1301Y was involved in an accident near Kelleys Island, Ohio, United States. 3 people were on board and 2 died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 September 2007 at 01:06

Classification

Accident

Location

Kelleys Island, Ohio, United States

Nearest airport

Kelleys Island (89D)

Coordinates

41.6028, -82.6847

Aircraft

Cessna 172C

Registration

N1301Y

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kelley's Island → Lima

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

CHI07FA290

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident were the water and dark night conditions which resulted in the lack of ground references during the takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The non-instrument rated pilot departed to the east from the island airport at night. Witnesses reported seeing the airplane descend into Lake Erie shortly after takeoff. A resident of the island used his rowboat to rescue the surviving passenger. Post accident inspection of the airframe and engine failed to reveal any mechanical failure/malfunction that would have resulted in the accident. The departure end of the runway is approximately 200 feet from the lakeshore. The closest ground reference would have been the Ohio shoreline located about 10 miles south (to the right of) of the airplane's position.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.