# NTSB CEN21LA032: Cessna 172, N26481, Columbus, MS, October 17, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 17, 2020, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Columbus, MS
- Coordinates: 33.463525, -88.380821 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4635&lon=-88.3808&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102205
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA032
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102205/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102205
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA032

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during a touch-and-go landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [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 172R, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 75 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The solo student pilot was conducting a touch-and-go landing. During the subsequent takeoff roll, directional control was not maintained, and the airplane impacted a taxiway sign, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and firewall. Postaccident examination revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N26481](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N26481), registered now, S/N 17280578, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17280578
- Year built: 1998
- Airframe hours: 9773.1
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-L2A 180 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Accessible Aviation Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 30, 2020, 65 hours before
- Departed: GTR, Columbus, MS
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: UBS, Columbus, runway 36, 4,503 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 45 total, 45 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: KGTR, 10 nm away

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 4, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102205. 5.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11553103&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA inspector's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 201 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11551600&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Record%20of%20Conversation-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11552793&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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.