Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 177B near Middleberry, VT — 2010-08-01

Final reportERA10CA388
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Date
2010-08-01
Location
Middleberry, VT, USA
Airport
6B0
Aircraft
CESSNA 177B
Registration
N34641
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The pilot’s delayed decision to abort the takeoff.

NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, he performed a run-up and proceeded to the departure end of the runway. He applied full power and began the takeoff roll. With the airplane about halfway down the runway, the pilot realized that the airplane was not developing as much airspeed as he expected. As the airplane approached the end of the runway, he decided to abort the takeoff. He pulled back the throttle and applied the brakes but the airplane did not slow down quickly enough. The airplane ran off the end of the runway, traveled down an embankment, and came to rest in a marshy area, substantially damaging the forward section of the fuselage. The pilot noted that he had forgotten to set the flaps properly for takeoff. During a postaccident examination of the wreckage, a Federal Aviation Administration inspector found no preexisting mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted takeoff earlier when airspeed was insufficient.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents7

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