# Accident 20201127014779A: Cessna 172S, Sanford, NC, November 27, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 27, 2020, 13:00 local time
- Place: Sanford, NC
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.5824° N, 79.1013° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5824&lon=-79.1013&mi=10
- Aircraft: N53587, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N53587) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172S (registry code 2072439, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (registry code 41597, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 73 total, 72 in this make and model, 38 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA21LA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA057) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201127014779A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT TOOK OFF FROM RUNWAY 3 AT TTA WITH WHAT HE ESTIMATED WAS 5% AILERON TO THE LEFT.  THE WINDS WERE LIGHT  BUT SHIFTING, AND WERE 350@5 WHEN THE PILOT BEGAN HIS TAKEOFF ROLL.  APPROACHING ROTATION SPEED, THE AIRCRAFT VEERED SUDDENLY AND SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE LEFT.  THE PILOT STATED IT MAY HAVE BEEN HIS AILERON INPUT, BUT IT FELT LIKE A HORIZONTAL LIFT FORCE THAT SENT HIM AND HIS AIRCRAFT TO THE LEFT, INTO A DITCH, CAUSING THE NOSE GEAR TO SHEER OFF AND THE FIREWALL TO BE DAMAGED.  HE IS FAMILIAR WITH THE TYPICAL LEFT TURNING TENDENCIES AND DIDN'T THINK THAT WAS THE CAUSE.  HE BELIEVES IT WAS PILOT ERROR, BUT DOES THINK IT WAS POSSIBLE, THOUGH UNLIKELY IN HIS OPINION, THAT A WIND GUST OR SHIFT CONTRIBUTED.

## 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 ERA21LA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA057), Nov 27, 2020: Cessna 172 (N53587), Sanford, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff in crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with terrain.

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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