Cessna 172K accident near Bristol, Tennessee, May 15, 2003
On May 15, 2003 at about 3:25 am local time, a Cessna 172K, registered N7412G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bristol, Tennessee (Tri-Cities Regional Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper use of the rudder controls during the takeoff roll resulting in a loss of directional control, and the on-ground collision with an embankment.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 15, 2003 · about 3:25 am local time
- Place
- Bristol, Tennessee · Tri-Cities Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N7412G · no longer on the register · serial 17259112
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said that on the takeoff roll the airplane reached 40 mph and then it veered to the left. He applied too much right rudder and then overcorrected with left rudder. The airplane departed the runway to the left into the grass, collided with an embankment, and nosed over. Examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies with the brake or flight control system.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 620 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 520 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 1, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,771 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 22, 2003; 125 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO320-E20 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TRI Bristol TN at 3:25 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 8,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 am from TRI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.