PRESCOTT, AZ, USA
N251ER
CESSNA 172N
THE 81.9-HOUR TOTAL TIME, RECENTLY CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT ATTEMPTED A DARK, NIGHTTIME TAKEOFF, ON A 7616 FOOT-LONG BY 150-FOOT WIDE RUNWAY. OVER 30 SECONDS EARLIER A BEECH 1900 AIRPLANE HAD DEPARTED FROM THE SAME RUNWAY. THE PRIVATE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING HIS TAKEOFF ROLL THE AIRPLANE BEGAN SHAKING AND HE FELT 'UNCOMFORTABLE'. THE PILOT APPLIED BRAKES AND RUDDER BUT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A DIRT BANK. THE PILOT'S TOTAL NIGHTTIME PIC FLIGHT EXPERIENCE WAS 3.7 HOURS.
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS RELATED TO THE DARK, NIGHT LIGHT CONDITION AND TO THE PILOT'S INEXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF NIGHTTIME TAKEOFF OPERATION.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
