- Date
- December 18, 2009, 12:15 local (18:15 UTC)
- Place
- Ames, IA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N99930Cessna 172P
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 23, 2010
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration - Des Moines FSDO
- FAA report
- 20091218052529A
- Case key
- 75188
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while attempting a takeoff on an ice-covered runway.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The accident occurred during a takeoff on an ice-covered runway. The pilot reported that when the airplane encountered a large patch of ice on the runway it began to drift left of the runway centerline. He immediately reduced engine power and applied brake pressure, but the airplane continued to slide toward the runway edge. The airplane impacted a snow bank and nosed over. A post accident examination revealed that the engine firewall, both wings, and the empennage components were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.
Factual narrative
The accident occurred during a takeoff on an ice-covered runway. The pilot reported that when the airplane encountered a large patch of ice it began to drift left of the runway centerline. He immediately reduced engine power and applied brake pressure, but the airplane continued to slide toward the runway edge. The airplane impacted a snow bank and nosed over. A postaccident examination revealed that the engine firewall, both wings, and the empennage components were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N99930
- Reported as
- Cessna 172P
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17276528
- Airframe hours
- 13,535.7
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D2J, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Hap's Air, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Hap's Air, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 30, 2009
- Departed
- KAMW · Ames, IA
- Destination
- KAMW · Ames, IA
- Airport
- KAMW · Ames Municpal Airport, runway 01, 5,700 × 100 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
- Pilot
- Age
- 20
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 3, 2009
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 50 total · 47 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 10,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 27 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.85 inHg
- Observed at
- KAMW
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 19, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.5 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.