On September 4, 2007, a Cessna 172C (registration N1301Y) was involved in an aviation accident near Kelleys Island, OH. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident were the water and dark night conditions which resulted in the lack of ground references during the takeoff. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A non-instrument rated pilot departed an island airport at night, witnesses reported the airplane descending into Lake Erie shortly after takeoff. A resident rescued a surviving passenger. No mechanical failure was found.
Accident Details
A pilot without an instrument rating departed to the east from an island airport at night. The departure end of the runway is located approximately 200 feet from the lakeshore. The closest ground reference would have been the Ohio shoreline, situated about 10 miles south, to the right of the airplane's position.
Witness Accounts
Witnesses reported seeing the airplane descend into Lake Erie shortly after takeoff.
Rescue
A resident of the island used a rowboat to rescue the surviving passenger.
Investigation
Post-accident inspection of the airframe and engine failed to reveal any mechanical failure or malfunction that would have resulted in the accident.
What happened in the 4 Sept 2007 Cessna 172C accident near Kelleys Island, OH?
A non-instrument rated pilot departed an island airport at night, witnesses reported the airplane descending into Lake Erie shortly after takeoff. A resident rescued a surviving passenger. No mechanical failure was found.
Were there any fatalities in the 4 Sept 2007 Cessna 172C accident?
No fatalities were recorded in this accident.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 4 Sept 2007 involved a Cessna 172C, registration N1301Y, at Kelleys Island, OH.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident were the water and dark night conditions which resulted in the lack of ground references during the takeoff.
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