# NTSB CEN21LA064: Cessna 172, N5XY, El Paso, TX, November 19, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: November 19, 2020, 09:47 local (16:47 UTC)
- Place: El Paso, TX
- Coordinates: 31.807333, -106.37636 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8073&lon=-106.3764&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: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102305
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA064
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102305/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA064

## Probable cause

The pilot’s loss of control on takeoff during a touch and go landing, which resulted in a runway excursion.

## 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 · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [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; cases with it: [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: [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The private pilot reported while performing a touch and go landing and accelerating for takeoff, the nose of the airplane began drifting to the right. The pilot applied left rudder to realign the nose to the runway centerline, but then the airplane veered sharply to the left. The pilot attempted to abort the takeoff, but the airplane departed the left side of the runway and struck a small concrete manhole cover; the airplane became airborne momentarily before impacting an adjacent taxiway. The airplane received substantial damage to the underside of the forward fuselage. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5XY (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (P)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17275266
- Year built: 1981
- Airframe hours: 11622.4
- Engines: Lycoming 0-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Red Arrow Aviation LLC
- Registered owner: Red Arrow Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 31, 2020, 46.7 hours before
- Departed: DNA, Santa Teresa, NM
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: ELP, El Paso International, runway 26L, 9,025 × 148 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, waiver time limited special; last flight review August 24, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 72 total, 70 in this make and model, 23 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observed at: KELP
- METAR: KELP 191651Z 17006KT 10SM CLR 21/04 A3025 RMK AO2 SLP190 T02060044

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.

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