Takeoff & Initial Climb · NTSB ERA21FA178
CESSNA 177B — Great Valley, NY
| Date | April 7, 2021 |
| Location | Great Valley, NY |
| Aircraft | CESSNA 177B |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Takeoff Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) |
| Pilot age | 72 |
| Pilot total time | 1,143 hrs · Experienced |
| Time in type | Unknown |
| Fatalities | 1, 1 serious |
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain control during takeoff.
NTSB findings
- Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-(general)-Not attained/maintained
What happened
Witnesses who saw the accident airplane depart stated that it entered a 90° bank after becoming airborne. The airplane’s left wing struck the ground and the airplane cartwheeled and was consumed by a postimpact fire. The pilot told a responding law enforcement officer that he “lost it on the takeoff,” but later could not recall the accident.
Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical deficiencies that would have precluded normal operation at the time of impact. It is likely that the pilot failed to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff, which resulted in impact with terrain.