On August 11, 1992, a Cessna 152 (registration N69230) was involved in an aviation accident near Plainville, CT. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A light airplane veered off the runway during takeoff, descending an embankment and nosing over. The pilot reported a strong left pull that could not be corrected.
What happened
During the initial phase of takeoff, the aircraft departed the paved surface on the left side of the runway. It descended down an adjacent embankment and subsequently nosed over. According to the pilot's account, approximately one-quarter of the way down the runway length, the airplane began to pull very strongly to the left. The pilot attempted to regain control but was unsuccessful in correcting the deviation.
The investigation
A post-acc examination of the airplane was conducted to determine if equipment failure contributed to the incident. The inspection did not disclose evidence of a mechanical malfunction or any pre-existing defects that would explain the loss of directional control.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.