# Accident 20100503032949A: Cessna 172S, Palo Alto, CA, May 3, 2010

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 3, 2010, 13:40 local time
- Place: Palo Alto, CA
- Airport: Palo Alto
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.4611° N, 122.1150° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4611&lon=-122.1150&mi=10
- Aircraft: N796SP, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N796SP) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172S (registry code 2072439, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 830 total, 690 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR10CA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA230) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100503032949A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

STUDENT PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING SOFT FIELD TAKE-OFF FROM PALO ALTO AIRPORT RUNWAY 31.  AIRCRAFT DRIFTED TO LEFT HITTING TAXI LIGHT WITH RIGHT ELEVATOR, INSTRUCTOR TOOK CONTROLS AT THIS TIME, AIRCRAFT CONTINUED ACCROSS RUNWAY AND HIT TOP OF ANEMOMETER  POLE WHICH WAS LOCATED RIGHT SIDE OF RUNWAY, DAMAGING RIGHT WING TIP.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR10CA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA230), May 3, 2010: Cessna 172S (N796SP), Palo Alto, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control and the certified flight instructor’s delayed response to the student pilot's loss of control during the takeoff roll.

## Other reports on N796SP (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20170428003869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170428003869A), Apr 28, 2017: Cessna 172S (N796SP), Jean, NV, Substantial damage. On April 28, 2017, about 12:55 pacific standard time (PST), a Cessna 172S, N796SP, impacted the terrain during an attempted visual flight rules (VFR) landing…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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