# NTSB CEN23LA175: Cessna 172S, N1674E, Brookings, SD, May 4, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 4, 2023, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Brookings, SD - Coordinates: 44.306876, -96.822444 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3069&lon=-96.8224&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-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 114702 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA175 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/114702/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=114702 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA175 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain pitch and directional control during the takeoff roll. Contributing to the accident, was the student pilot’s delay in relinquishing control of the airplane and the instructor's delayed reaction before the loss of directional control. ## 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) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01060000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01060000/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 63 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01060000/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/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) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 124 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md) - [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: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 118 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The check instructor reported that during a soft field takeoff for an end-of-course test, the student pilot did not correct for an increasing nose up attitude and struck the tail on the runway surface. The student was then instructed to abort the take-off several times, to which the student did not immediately respond. During the abort, the student pilot lost directional control and the instructor took control of the airplane. However, the instructor reported that he was unable to regain full control before the airplane left the runway surface. The airplane struck a runway sign which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1674E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1674E), registered now, S/N 172S9915, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S9915 - Year built: 2005 - Airframe hours: 8705.6 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: South Dakota State University - Registered owner: Medary Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 23, 2023, 95 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: KBKX, Brookings Regional, runway 12, 100 × 6,000 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Check pilot; age 24; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 26, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 723 total, 585 in this make and model, 637 as pilot in command, 103 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 20; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 80 total, 80 in this make and model, 9 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.76 inHg - Observed at: KBKX, 1 nm away - METAR: METAR KBKX 042256Z AUTO 11006KT 10SM BKN090 23/04 A2976 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT SE SLP089 T02330044= ## 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 20230504005729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230504005729A), May 4, 2023: Cessna 172S, Brookings, SD, Substantial damage. CFI failed to take appropriate and timely corrective action to incorrectly performed soft field take off by student pilot. CFI was late to respond to student… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 29, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=114702. 3.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15591260&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 471 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15592837&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.