Cessna 172H N3736R accident near Moscow Mills, Missouri

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff in a gusty crosswind, which resulted in a runway excursion.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that she took off on runway 27 with the wind from 180 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 23 knots. When the airplane was about 5 to 10 feet above the runway, the airplane encountered a strong gust of wind, and the airplane drifted left of centerline and descended back onto the runway. The pilot steered the airplane back to the centerline and attempted to abort the takeoff by applying full brakes and pulling the throttle back to idle. The airplane went off the end of the 3,227 foot long runway onto wet grass and continued down an embankment, across a road, and into a steep ditch. The airplane’s firewall sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN12CA361 for the full record.