Cessna C-172F | N7905U
August 6th, 2024 | Brazoria, Texas
Accident Location
- City: Brazoria
- State: Texas
- Latitude: 28.983336
- Longitude: -95.579193
- Airport ID: 2TE0
Aircraft Info
- N Number: N7905U
- Make: Cessna
- Model: C-172F
- Aircraft Category: Aircraft Single Engine Land
- Amateur Built: No
Pilot Info
- PIC Name: Autrey, Howard Thirl
- Gender: Male
- Pilot Age: 82
- Pilot Hours:
- Flight School:
- Instructional Flight:
- Pilot Certification: Commercial Pilot
- IFR Rating: Yes
- Pilot Error: Yes
- Pilot Medical: 3rd Class Medical
- Pilot Incapacitation: No
Analysis
- Date: August 6th, 2024
- Time: 6:20 PM Local Time
- Day / Night: Day
- VMC / IMC: VMC
- Phase Of Flight: Initial Climb
- Total People Onboard: 1
- PIC Fatality: 1
- PAX Fatalities: 0
- Ground Fatalities: 0
- Total Fatalities: 1
- NTSB No: CEN24FA305
- NTSB Travel: Unknown
- AQP Classification: 18) REJECTED TAKEOFF (RTO), U-FIT
Probable Cause
DTSB: The DTSB determines the Probable Cause of this accident to be Pilot Error, in that the pilot elected to takeoff on remaining runway, after aborting his first previous takeoff attempt due to a rough running engine. The pilot failed to abort this second takeoff attempt when presented with clear reasons for doing so. After lift began to occur, the aircraft was observed to pull to the left and entered an area of tall wet uncut grass, where the pilot tried to climb with an increasing nose up attitude. Small pieces of the horizontal stabilizer and white paint chips (consistent with the airplane’s paint) were found amidst the grass. The contact with the metal pieces was consistent with the airplane rotating for takeoff after it veered off the runway surface, as it passed through the tall, uncut grass in the boggy area. The boggy area was bordered by a 4 ft high barbed wire fence. A portion of the airplane’s right elevator was found embedded in the top wire of the fence. The main wreckage of the airplane was about 200 ft from the fence.
NTSB:
Recommendation
DTSB: The DTSB recommends that all pilots of all aircraft rehearse and condition themselves to the conditions which should result in performing a rejected takeoff. The use of the AQP 50/70 rule is highly recommended, and pilots should know the four conditions that could cause a takeoff to become degraded, and be prepared to perform the RTO immediately and without hesitation.
NTSB:
DISCLAIMER: All data and Probable Cause listings are “Probable” only. They are based on opinion and educated speculation, and are for educational purposes only. They may contain incorrect information and are subject to change as new information becomes available.