# NTSB CHI03LA015: Cessna 172, N848SP, St. Paul, MN, October 29, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 29, 2002, 14:58 local (20:58 UTC) - Place: St. Paul, MN - Coordinates: 44.930973, -93.080192 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9310&lon=-93.0802&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 18, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Minneapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55979 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA015 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55979/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA015 ## Probable cause The student pilot failed to maintain directional control. A factor was the runway sign. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - sign (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane sustained substantial damage when it veered left off the runway during a touch and go and hit a runway sign before coming to a complete stop. The student pilot reported he was practicing touch and goes. He reported that after the fourth landing the right pedal began to stick and caused a sharp turn to the right. He reported that he could not get the pedal un-jammed so he applied left rudder. He reported he "lost control" of the airplane while using the right rudder to center the airplane. He reported that he pulled the power out and applied brakes. The airplane hit a runway sign and the airplane went into a skid. The student pilot had 28 total flight hours and one hour of pilot-in-command time. The inspection of the airplane revealed no preexisting mechanical defects. ## Factual narrative On October 29, 2002, at 1458 central standard time, a Cessna 172, N848SP, sustained substantial damage when it veered left off of runway 13 (4,115 feet by 150 feet, asphalt) at the St. Paul Downtown Holman Field Airport (STP), St. Paul, Minnesota, and hit a runway sign before coming to a complete stop. The student pilot was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 solo instructional flight was practicing touch and goes on a local training flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed. The student pilot reported that after the fourth touch and go landing, the right pedal began to stick and caused a sharp turn to the right. Initially, he could not get pedal un-jammed so he applied left rudder. He reported he "lost control" of the airplane while using the right rudder to center the airplane. He reported that he pulled the power out and applied brakes. The airplane hit a runway sign and the airplane went into a skid. The student pilot had 28 total flight hours and one hour of pilot-in-command time. The reported winds at STP were 080 degrees at 4 knots. A Federal Aviation Administration Airworthiness Inspector examined the airplane and reported that no preexisting mechanical defects were found on the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N848SP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N848SP-2007-07-09), registration cancelled 2007-07-09, S/N 172S8756 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S8756 - Airframe hours: 943 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Wings, Inc. - Registered owner: Sullivan Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: STP, St. Paul, MN - Airport: STP, St. Paul Downtown Airport, runway 13, 4,115 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 22; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1; seat: left; flight hours: 28 total, 28 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,900 ft broken - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: STP ## 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 20021029030669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021029030669A), Oct 29, 2002: Cessna 172S, St Paul, MN, Substantial damage. (-23) The investigation did not uncover any contributing factors associated with this accident. Student pilot received additional ground and flight instruction… 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.