ATL04CA133

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172 · Kennesaw, GA · June 19, 2004

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
June 19, 2004, 10:39 local (15:39 UTC)
Place
Kennesaw, GA
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N52846Cessna 172
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report September 29, 2004
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Atlanta FSDO-11
FAA report
20040619030419A
Case key
59541

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing roll that resulted in the on ground collision with the ground, and the subsequent collapse of the nose gear.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterLanding - roll
Terrain condition - groundCause
Nose gear collapsedLanding - roll
Landing gear,nose gear assembly - overload

Analysis

The student pilot completed four touch and go landings with the instructor on board, before his solo flight. The student completed three solo touch and go landings. On the fourth solo landing, the airplane bounced on the runway and the student pilot lost directional control of the airplane. The airplane veered off the right side of runway 27 into the grass and collapsed the nose gear assembly.

Factual narrative

On June 19, 2004 at 1039 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N52846, operated by Superior Flight School collided with the ground during landing on runway 27 at Cobb County McCullum Field, in Kennesaw, Georgia. The solo flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was substantially damaged and the student pilot was not injured. The flight departed Cobb County McCullum Field, in Kennesaw, Georgia, at 1000 on June 19, 2004.

The student pilot completed four touch and go landings with the certified flight instructor (CFI) on board, before his solo flight. After the CFI exited the airplane, the student pilot completed three touch and go landings. While on downwind for the fourth landing on runway 27 the tower controller instructed the student pilot to expect a full stop landing. The student pilot verbally acknowledged the controller's instructions.

The airplane touched down within the first third of the runway, with approximately 3000 feet of the runway remaining. According to the student pilot, after touch down he began a lift off sequence. The airplane became airborne when the tower told the student pilot to make a full stop.

The student pilot stated that he reduced the throttle and pushed the yoke forward, then the airplane bounced on the runway and veered off the right side of the runway into the grass. The airplane came to rest with approximately 1200 feet of runway remaining.

Examination of the downed airplane revealed the propeller and engine assemblies were displaced aft from their normally installed position. The undercarriage and firewall assembly of the airframe was buckled. The nose strut was separated. Examination of the airframe, flight controls, engine assemblies and accessories revealed no anomalies.

Aircraft

Registration
N52846
Reported as
Cessna 172
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17274621
Airframe hours
8,258.6
Engine
Lycoming O-320-025, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Superior Flight School Inc
Registered owner
Atlanta Capital Incorporated LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · May 9, 2004 · 24 hours before
Departed
RYY · Kennisaw, GA
Destination
RYY · Kennisaw, GA
Airport
RYY · Cobb County McCullom Field, runway 27, 5,105 × 75 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Student pilot
Age
40
Injuries
None
Certificate
Student
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Seat
Left
Flight hours
38 total · 38 in this make and model · 20 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
300° at 7 knots
Visibility
7 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Altimeter
30.11 inHg
Observed at
RYY

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N52846 · 1

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