Cessna 172M accident near Chatham, Massachusetts, July 22, 2014
On July 22, 2014 at about 3:20 pm local time, a 1974 Cessna 172M, registered N1066R, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Chatham, Massachusetts (Chatham Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff, resulting in a runway excursion and collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 2014 · about 3:20 pm local time
- Place
- Chatham, Massachusetts · Chatham Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M, built 1974 · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N1066R · no longer on the register · serial 17263020
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he was performing a touch-and-go landing to runway 24. He was initially high on final; however, he landed the airplane about 400 feet from the arrival end of the runway. After applying full throttle during the subsequent takeoff, the airplane veered "significantly" to the left. He attempted to regain directional control; however, the airplane departed the left side of the runway, into the grass. He applied wheel brakes and the wheels skidded on the grass until the airplane contacted trees. The airplane then spun around "violently" and came to a stop. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration examined the airplane and confirmed substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 222 hours in all; 119 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 145 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 18, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,335 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 15, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320 SERIES (piston); 1,262 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CQX Chatham MA at 2:00 pm
- Destination: CQX Chatham MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,001 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 2:52 pm from CQX
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on August 21, 2014. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum of Record - FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo 1 - Aircraft Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo 2 - Fuselage and Left Wing (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo 3 - Inboard Section of Left Wing (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Photo 4 - Right Wing Outboard Section (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Photo 5 - Fuselage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.