No fatalities

15 Aug 2024: CESSNA 172 C — Elkwood, VA

Elkwood, VA, United States

On 15 Aug 2024, a CESSNA 172 C was involved in an aviation accident near Elkwood, VA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s failure to correctly reinstall the airplane’s left seat, resulting in the movement of the seat during the takeoff roll, and the subsequent loss of control and runway excursion. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to correctly reinstall the airplane’s left seat, resulting in the movement of the seat during the takeoff roll, and the subsequent loss of control and runway excursion.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

PilotIncorrect service/maintenance