- Date
- April 5, 2014, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place
- Larimore, ND
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N510NDCessna 172
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 23, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA Flight Standards District Office
- FAA report
- 20140405004229A
- Case key
- 89015
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
Failure of the pilot to attain and maintain sufficient control inputs to compensate for the crosswind. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's failure to adequately monitor the pilot and the flight.
Findings · 5
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 wind was from the southwest at 6 to 10 knots when the pilot began a soft-field takeoff on runway 12. The airplane lifted off the ground and drifted rapidly towards the left side of the runway. Because of the nose high attitude, the instructor was unaware how close the airplane was to the runway edge. The pilot attempted to correct, but the left wheel contacted the snow bank unevenly and the airplane nosed over.
Factual narrative
The flight instructor and a private pilot were practicing takeoffs and landings on runway 12 (2,800 feet x 50 feet). The wind was from the southwest at 6 to 10 knots, resulting in a right crosswind. Although the runway was dry, there were layers of snow on both sides, 6 to 12 inches deep. After making different types of takeoffs and landings, a soft field takeoff was attempted. The brakes were held and full power was applied. After brake release, the pilot brought the nose up to try and lift off in ground effect. The high nose attitude prevented either pilot from seeing straight down the runway and right aileron was applied to correct for the right crosswind. The airplane lifted off the ground and drifted rapidly towards the left side of the runway. The instructor said he didn't realize how close they were to the runway edge. The pilot said he attempted to correct, but the left wheel contacted the snow bank and he reduced the power to idle. The airplane skidded unevenly in the snow and nosed over. Both wing upper skins and wing tips were buckled, the right lift strut and the lower aft empennage were bent.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N510ND
- Reported as
- Cessna 172 (S)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 172S10952
- Built
- 2009
- Airframe hours
- 3,605
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-L2A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- University of North Dakota Aerospace Foundation
- Registered owner
- University of North Dakota Aerospace Foundation
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- AAIP · April 4, 2014
- Departed
- KGFK · Grand Forks, ND
- Destination
- KGFK · Grand Forks, ND
- Airport
- 2L1 · Larimore Municipal Airport, runway 12, 2,800 × 50 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Stall warning system
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 22
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 5, 2013
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 366 total · 160 in this make and model · 62 as pilot in command · 22 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 29
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 23, 2014
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 94 total · 94 in this make and model · 13 as pilot in command · 35 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 39 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.82 inHg
- Observed at
- KRDR
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 21, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 5.3 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.