Hagerstown Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hagerstown, Maryland 21740
Friday, November 17, 2000 9:58 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the takeoff roll, the pilot realized the control wheel lock was still connected to the control wheel and he attempted to remove it with both hands. The airplane then rotated on its own, climbed to about 20 feet and 'crashed straight down' onto the runway. The landing gear nose tire burst, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane proceeded off the departure end of the runway. According to the airplane's operating handbook, the second item on the PREFLIGHT INSPECTION checklist is to remove the control wheel lock. Additionally, the third item on the BEFORE TAKEOFF checklist requires that the flight controls are 'free and correct.' The pilot stated that he did not perform a run-up inspection on the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to remove the gust lock from the control column before takeoff, and his failure to abort the takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/17/2000
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 958
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City HAGERSTOWN
Event State MARYLAND
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 21740
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport HAGERSTOWN REGIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID HGR
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 703
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 953 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID HGR
Elevation of weather observation facility 703
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 10040
NTSB Notification Source Eastern Region Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date Nov 17 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1200
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jul 17 2001 8:35AM
User who most recently changed record MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N79054
NTSB Number NYC01LA038
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172K
Aircraft Series Identifier 172K
Aircraft Serial Number 17257846
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 4 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 11
Airframe Hours 6700
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DONALD MYERS
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City NEEDMORE
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 17238
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code HGR
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 958
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 13 2001 4:03AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 5461
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --