# NTSB CEN11CA158: Cessna 172S, N348ME, McKinney, TX, January 22, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 22, 2011, 15:08 local (21:08 UTC) - Place: McKinney, TX - Coordinates: 33.173332, -96.587501 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1733&lon=-96.5875&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 26, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 78210 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA158 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78210/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78210 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA158 ## Probable cause The student pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 206 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 66 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the student pilot, after finishing several takeoffs and landings with his instructor, he was completing his first series of solo takeoffs and landings. The first takeoff and landing was uneventful. During the second takeoff attempt, after applying full power on the takeoff roll, the airplane started shaking and swerving to the left. The pilot applied full right rudder, but the airplane continued going to the left. The pilot stated that he reduced the power to idle and applied the brakes. The airplane exited the left side of the runway and impacted a construction ditch, which resulted in substantial damage to the engine firewall and left wing. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. ## Factual narrative According to the student pilot, after finishing several takeoff and landings with his instructor, he was completing his first series of solo takeoff and landings. The first takeoff and landing was uneventful. During the second takeoff attempt, he stated that after applying full power on the takeoff roll, the airplane started shaking in the front and going to the left. He put in full right rudder, but the airplane continued going to the left. The pilot stated that he pulled the power back to idle and applied the brakes. The airplane exited the left side of the runway and went into a construction ditch, which resulted in substantial damage to the engine firewall and left wing. The pilot stated that he felt there may have been a mechanical problem with the nosewheel, rudder, or brakes. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N348ME](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N348ME), registered now, S/N 172S8582, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S8582 - Airframe hours: 4555 - Engines: LYCOMING IO360 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Texas Aviation Support, Inc, doing business as Lone Star Flyers - Registered owner: Gzork Investments LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 27, 2010 - Departed: KTKI, McKinney, TX - Destination: KTKI, McKinney, TX - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: KTKI, Collin County Regional Airport, runway 17, 7,001 × 100 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 31; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 25 total, 25 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KTKI ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20110122000859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110122000859A), Jan 22, 2011: Cessna 172S, Mckinney, TX, Substantial damage. On January 22, 2010 at approximately 1308, student pilot was conducting his first solo flight in N348ME, CE-172S, at Collin County Regional Airport. During the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 22, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78210. 1.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 583 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40343113&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 244 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40343416&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - FAA Inspectors Report (item 3, .PDF, 640 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40343465&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspectors%20Report-Redacted.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.