# NTSB CEN21LA433: Cessna 172, N767CG, Council Bluffs, IA, September 15, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 15, 2021, 07:45 local (12:45 UTC)
- Place: Council Bluffs, IA
- Coordinates: 41.260111, -95.758639 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2601&lon=-95.7586&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- 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: Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103918
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA433
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103918/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103918
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA433

## Probable cause

The student 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.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause)

## Analysis

The student pilot reported that while performing a touch and go landing, the airplane drifted to the left edge of the runway. The student pilot advanced the throttle to full power, but he was unable to maintain directional control of the airplane. The airplane became airborne momentarily, but subsequently descended and impacted terrain on both sides of the runway before coming to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations.

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N767CG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N767CG), registered now, S/N 17269309 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17269309
- Year built: 1977
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Mindy Limited LLC
- Registered owner: Mindy Limited LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: CBF, Council Bluffs, IA
- Destination: CBF, Council Bluffs, IA
- Airport: CBF, Council Bluffs Muni, runway 14/32, 3,650 × 60 ft, concrete
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 50; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 26 total, 26 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: KCBF
- METAR: KCBF 151235Z AUTO 14006KT 8SM CLR 13/13 A3004 RMK AO2

## 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 20210915015779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210915015779A), Sep 15, 2021: Cessna 172N, Council Bluffs, IA, Substantial damage. Student on solo flight lost directional control on runway during touch and go at kcbf, rwy 14. When take off power was applied the aircraft veered off runway…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 16, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103918. 5.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12893562&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo of damage (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 337 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12893252&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20of%20Damage%20to%20Fuselage-Rel.pdf

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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