Cessna 172 accident near Hudson, New York, July 29, 2020

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

The pilot, who had not flown for the three months preceding the accident, was flying the airplane for the first time since its annual inspection had been completed. Following an uneventful preflight inspection and flight to another airport, he landed the airplane at a third airport and back-taxied for departure. After traveling a short down the distance down the runway during the takeoff, the pilot reported that the airplane began yawing to the left. The pilot attempted to compensate for the left yaw by applying right rudder, but the left yaw continued. He then applied full right rudder but was unable to center the airplane and it departed the left side of the runway. The pilot then reduced engine power as the airplane proceed over the downward sloping terrain off the side of the runway and into an area of dense vegetation and small trees. The airplane came to rest in the vegetation and both wings and the forward portion of the fuselage were substantially damaged. A postaccident examination of the airplane’s ailerons, rudder, and brake systems revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the wind was light and variable about the time of the accident. Given this information, it is likely that the pilot lost directional control of the airplane during the takeoff attempt, which resulted in a runway excursion.

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.