# NTSB CEN23LA307: Cessna 172N, N701DE, Greenwood, IN, July 12, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 12, 2023, 16:55 local (20:55 UTC)
- Place: Greenwood, IN
- Coordinates: 39.628585, -86.087893 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6286&lon=-86.0879&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: 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): 192631
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA307
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192631/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192631
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA307

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.

## 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: [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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [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: 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)

## 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17268367
- Year built: 1976
- Engines: 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.

- Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; 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

## 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 20230712010859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230712010859A), Jul 12, 2023: Cessna 172N, Greenwood, IN, Substantial damage. On July 16, 2023 at approximatley 1550 EDT, the aircraft exited runway 19 at Greenwood airport (hfy). The weather was VFR, the runway was dry and the wind was…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 28, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192631. 11.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 9.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15827051&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15827420&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.

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