Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 195B near Llano, TX — 2015-01-06

Final reportCEN15LA099
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Date
2015-01-06
Location
Llano, TX, USA
Airport
KAQO
Aircraft
CESSNA 195B
Registration
N2125C
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The pilot’s overrotation of the airplane when lifting the tail during the takeoff roll, which allowed the propeller to come in contact with the runway and resulted in a reduction in engine power and the pilot’s subsequent loss of directional control.

NTSB narrative

The pilot said that, when the tailwheel lifted off the runway, the engine lost power, and he thought it had quit. The airplane then pitched forward, and the propeller struck the asphalt runway. The airplane turned slightly right, went off the side of the runway, and nosed over. An examination of the runway found at least 15 propeller strikes in the runway pavement, which is indicative of the engine producing power and driving the propeller. Tire tracks and propeller strikes were observed going off the right side of the runway into the dirt and ending where the airplane nosed over. No anomalies were found with the airplane's controls, engine, or other systems. The pilot likely overrotated the airplane when he lifted the tail for takeoff, and the propeller then struck the runway, which resulted in a reduction of engine power and the pilot's subsequent loss of directional control.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted takeoff when engine power loss was first noticed.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 9 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents9

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