Shade Tree Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lyman, Mississippi 39503
Thursday, August 23, 2012 10:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The private pilot reported that he was conducting the initial takeoff when the window on the cockpit door came open. He reached with his left hand to close the window and simultaneously tried to abort the takeoff. When he looked up, he observed the airplane departing the left side of the runway. He was unable to stop the airplane before it collided with perimeter trees. Postaccident examination of the airframe revealed substantial damage to the engine firewall. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff as a result of his attempt to close an unsecured cockpit window.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/23/2012
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1000
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Lyman
Event State MISSISSIPPI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 39503
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 303037N
Event Location Longitude 0890850w
Event Location Airport Shade Tree Field
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MS82
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 113
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 953 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 150
Weather Observation Facility ID GPT
Elevation of weather observation facility 28
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 7
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 50
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.09
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30624
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 5 2012 9:44AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N65747
NTSB Number ERA12CA531
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 172P
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17275852
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Apr 5 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 4274
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name BOUDREAUX & KNOWLES INVESTMENTS LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City SAUCIER
Aircraft Owner State MS
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 39574-8963
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name James A Knowles Sr
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Saucier
Operator State MS
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 39574
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 MS82
Departure City Lyman
Departure State MS
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code MS82
Destination City Lyman
Destination State MS
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 29 2012 2:58PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 35
Runway Length 2800
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --