- Date
- July 12, 2023, 16:55 local (20:55 UTC)
- Place
- Greenwood, IN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N701DECessna 172N
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20230712010859A
- Case key
- 192631
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
The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.
Findings · 2
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
While performing a soft-field takeoff, the student pilot lost directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll. He attempted to correct with the application of rudder and brake inputs but was unsuccessful, and the airplane came to rest upright in a ditch adjacent to the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The student pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N701DE
- Reported as
- Cessna 172N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17268367
- Built
- 1976
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A4M, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Airport
- HFY · Indy South Greenwood Airport, runway 19, 5,102 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Unknown
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 44
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 34 total · 31 in this make and model · 7 as pilot in command · 34 in the last 90 days · 13 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 16 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 86 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.88 inHg
- Observed at
- KIND, 11 nm away
- METAR
- KIND 122054Z 18016G23KT 10SM FEW055 FEW150 BKN250 30/18 A2988 RMK AO2 SLP111 T03000183 58017
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 28, 2023, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 11.3 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.