NTSB Factual Report

On October 30, 2011, about 1111 central daylight time, a Cessna 182K, N2893R, sustained substantial damage when it departed the runway during takeoff and struck a ditch. The takeoff was being performed at the Branson West Municipal Airport (FWB), Branson West, Missouri. There were no injuries to the pilot or his 3 passengers. The airplane was registered to Brigman Productions, Inc., and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulation Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and the intended destination was the Hutchinson Municipal Airport (HUT), Hutchinson, Kansas.

The pilot reported that the pilot seat released and slid rearward during the takeoff roll. He said that he reduced engine power and could still reach the rudder pedals, but could not actuate the brakes. Subsequently, the airplane went off the runway and struck a drainage ditch.

On June 17, 2011, the Federal Aviation Administration issued Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2011-10-09. This AD replaced a previous AD and requires repetitive inspections and replacement of parts, if necessary, of the seat rail and seat rail holes; seat pin engagement; seat rollers, washers, and axle bolts or bushings; wall thickness of roller housing and the tang; and lock pin springs.

The airplane's most recent annual inspection dated October 12,2011, indicated that AD 2011-10-09 had been complied with and no defects were noted; additionally, postaccident examination of the seat mechanism by Federal Aviation Administration inspectors revealed no anomalies.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to ensure that his seat was in a locked position before takeoff, which resulted in the seat sliding rearward and the subsequent loss of directional control.