Tri-Cities Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bristol, Tennessee 37617
Wednesday, May 14, 2003 23:25 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot said that on the takeoff roll the airplane reached 40 mph and then it veered to the left. He applied too much right rudder and then overcorrected with left rudder. The airplane departed the runway to the left into the grass, collided with an embankment, and nosed over. Examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies with the brake or flight control system.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper use of the rudder controls during the takeoff roll resulting in a loss of directional control, and the on-ground collision with an embankment.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/14/2003
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 2325
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Bristol
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 37617
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator --
On Ground Collision occurred ? --
Event Location Latitude 362831N
Event Location Longitude 0822427W
Event Location Airport Tri-Cities Regional Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TRI
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 1519
Weather Briefing Completeness Partial - limited by pilot
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2353 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID TRI
Elevation of weather observation facility 1519
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 10000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.93
Density Altitude (feet) 1986
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14155
NTSB Notification Source FAA Communications Center
NTSB Notification Date May 15 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 36
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Nov 25 2003 11:36AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Nashville FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7412G
NTSB Number ATL03LA093
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172K
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17259112
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 22 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 125
Airframe Hours 8771
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Skycrafters Incorporated
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO Box 1061 TRi City Airport Station
Aircraft Owner City Blountville
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 37617
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 TRI
Departure City Bristol
Departure State TN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 2325
Departure Time Zone EDT
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 - roll/run
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred Yes
Date of most recent change to record Aug 11 2003 10:15AM
User who most recently changed record POWP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 23
Runway Length 8000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --