On September 20, 1992, a Cessna 177B (registration N34893) operated by Tnt Sales & Service was involved in an aviation accident near Norcross, MN. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the takeoff phase, which resulted in the aircraft settling into a corn crop. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A student pilot practicing touch-and-go landings on a private grass airstrip lost directional control during takeoff, veering into a cornfield and ditch due to insufficient airspeed.
What happened
The accident occurred while a student pilot was conducting practice touch-and-go landings on a private grass airstrip. During the takeoff phase of one such landing, the aircraft began to drift toward the left side of the runway. The plane moved off the paved surface and headed directly toward a corn crop and an adjacent ditch.
Recognizing the deviation from the intended flight path, the pilot attempted to correct the situation by pulling back on the controls in an effort to gain altitude and clear the vegetation. However, the aircraft did not have sufficient airspeed to sustain level flight or climb effectively. As a result, the airplane settled into the corn crop rather than clearing it.
The investigation
Examination of the accident site revealed that the aircraft had impacted the cornfield after leaving the airstrip. The lack of adequate airspeed during the critical takeoff phase prevented the pilot from successfully aborting the ground contact or gaining enough height to avoid the obstacle.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the takeoff phase, which resulted in the aircraft settling into a corn crop.