Cessna 172
St. Petersburg, FL — November 28, 2018
Event Information
| Date | November 28, 2018 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | GAA19CA085 |
| Event ID | 20181128X44044 |
| Location | St. Petersburg, FL |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 27.76500, -82.62666 |
| Airport | ALBERT WHITTED |
| Highest Injury | MINR |
Aircraft
| Make | Cessna |
| Model | 172 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 1 |
| None | 3 |
| Total Injured | 1 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's failure to remove the gust lock before flight, which resulted in the airplane’s inability to rotate and a subsequent runway overrun. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to follow the preflight checklist.
Full Narrative
The pilot reported that, before the flight he was rushed and did not follow the preflight checklist. During the near maximum gross weight takeoff, he noticed the acceleration was slow, but the airspeed was sufficient. He applied elevator back pressure to rotate, but immediately noticed the control lock was still in place on the yoke and attempted to remove it to no avail. He added that he does not recall trying to abort the takeoff or reduce power. The airplane overran the end of the runway, impacted water, and inverted before sinking.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.