VALLEY CENTER, KS, USA
N51611
CESSNA 172B
THE PILOT HAD BEEN FLYING WITH HIS YOUNG SON AS PASSENGER DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS. HE WENT SOLO TO GET CURRENT AT NIGHT. AFTER TWO FULL STOP LANDINGS, HE THOUGHT THE YOKE FELT HEAVY FOR THE TRIM SETTING HE USUALLY USED BUT HE STARTED A TAKEOFF ANYWAY. HALFWAY DOWN THE RUNWAY HE USED MORE NOSE-UP TRIM BUT THE CONTROLS STILL FELT HEAVY SO HE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF. HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP ON THE RUNWAY AND WENT OFF THE FOUR FOOT HIGH BANK OF DIRT. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE ELEVATOR TRIM POSITION INDICATOR DID NOT INDICATE THE ACTUAL POSITION OF THE ELEVATOR TRIM.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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