The private pilot reported that he left the windows open while completing the start-up checklist and while taxiing to the runway at the airport in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky.
During the takeoff roll, he noticed the passenger window was unsecured. In his attempt to secure the window, he momentarily took his eyes off the runway.
As he looked back, the Cessna 172 was traveling to the left side of the runway. With insufficient room to correct direction, the airplane collided with a runway distance marker sign.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator.
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s loss of directional control during the takeoff roll due to distraction by the passenger window being unsecured, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a runway distance marker. Contributing to the accident was pilot’s failure to ensure that the passenger window was secured.
This July 2019 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Checking doors and anything else loose in the cockpit is part of pre-flight checks. This is a checklist fail.
Windows and doors. Either abort takeoff or fly normally with the noise and land again.
Of. Course every checklist I’ve seen does say;
Doors secure, seat adjusted and locked, seat belt & shoulder harness secure.
The before start checklist says,;
Fuel and oil checked and caps secure,
Of course old worn out door and window latches should be replaced at the annual inspection. But broke owners too often defer maintenance.
Agree. Push on the doors, wiggle in the seat, and make sure the window latches are 100% twisted to the lock position. But just in case, during initial training, the instructor should spring some surprise window/door open scenarios as appropriate for the model during takeoff and departure to demonstrate how to properly react (which is normally ignore it and the noise until the proper and safe time to deal with it – stopped on the ground or at a safe altitude). The POH should have some guidance on how to handle those events in the air.
I developed a routine of popping a door on rotation w/o warning. Training had been done on previous flights.
It was a final check before 1st solo.