Accident Details
On September 12, 2018, at 0810 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172 airplane, registration N24ME, was substantially damaged in an accident near Roche Harbor, Washington. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The aircraft was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 positioning flight.
Pilot's Account
According to the pilot, just before takeoff, he adjusted his seat and "wiggled it" to ensure it was locked. During the takeoff roll, the seat moved all the way aft, preventing him from reaching the throttle or the rudder pedals. The airplane veered to the left and lifted off the ground. Shortly after, the tail struck the ground, followed by the left wing, and the airplane came to rest on its nose.
FAA Inspection
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who responded to the accident site examined the pilot's seat. The inspector found the seat in the farthest aft position with the stops engaged in the aft holes. The seat moved freely in both directions to each stop with no binding encountered. Additionally, there was proper hole engagement between the seat pin and the holes in the seat rail; the seat did not move once the stop was engaged with the hole.
The investigation did not determine a probable cause for the accident.