# NTSB CHI04LA012: Cessna 172F, N5204F, Columbus, NE, October 15, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 15, 2003, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Columbus, NE - Coordinates: 41.448055, -97.342781 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4481&lon=-97.3428&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58158 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04LA012 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58158/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04LA012 ## Probable cause The student pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during an aborted takeoff. Factors associated with the accident were the crosswind condition, the delayed aborted takeoff, and the student's lack of experience. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - aborted takeoff - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted - terrain condition - crop - terrain condition - grass - Nose over, takeoff - aborted ## Analysis The airplane nosed over during an aborted takeoff on runway 14. The student pilot reported he was planning on making a touch and go landing, but he had a difficult time controlling the airplane because of the crosswind, so he elected to make a full stop landing. During the subsequent takeoff, the pilot reported, the airplane was pulling to the left so he aborted the takeoff at an airspeed of 45 knots. The airplane departed the left side of the runway approximately 2,600 feet from the threshold at the approach end of runway 14. It traveled about 320 feet through a grass area then an additional 100 feet through a wheat field. Tire marks indicate that once the airplane contacted the wheat field, it began to slide to the right. The right wing contacted the terrain and the airplane flipped over coming to rest approximately 480 feet from the runway. The airplane came to rest inverted on a heading of 360 degrees. Inspection of the airplane did not reveal any mechanical failure/malfunction which would have resulted in the loss of directional control. The winds reported at OLU at 1455 were from 70 degrees at 13 knots. According to Federal Aviation Administration records, the student pilot reported having 15 hours of flight time on the application for this third class airmen medical certificate which was dated September 5, 2003. ## Factual narrative On October 15, 2003, at 1500 central daylight time, a Cessna 172F, N5204F, nosed over during an aborted takeoff on runway 14 (6,800 feet by 100 feet, concrete) at the Columbus Municipal Airport (OLU), Columbus, Nebraska. The student pilot received a minor injury. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 solo instructional flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Offutt AFB, Omaha, Nebraska. The student pilot reported to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector that he was planning on making a touch and go landing at OLU, but he had a difficult time controlling the airplane because of the crosswind, so he elected to make a full stop landing. During the subsequent takeoff, the pilot reported, the airplane was pulling to the left so he aborted the takeoff at an airspeed of 45 knots. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and eventually nosed over. This was the student pilot's first solo cross-country flight. A FAA inspector reported that the airplane departed the left side of the runway approximately 2,600 feet from the threshold at the approach end of runway 14. The inspector stated the airplane traveled about 320 feet through a grass area then an additional 100 feet through a wheat field. Tire marks indicate that once the airplane contacted the wheat field, it began to slide to the right. The right wing contacted the terrain and the airplane flipped over coming to rest approximately 480 feet from the runway. The inspector reported that the aircraft came to rest inverted on a heading of 360 degrees. Inspection of the airplane did not reveal any mechanical failure/malfunction which would have resulted in the loss of directional control.. The winds reported at OLU at 1455 were from 70 degrees at 13 knots. According to FAA records, the student pilot reported having 15 hours of flight time on the application for this third class airmen medical certificate which was dated September 5, 2003. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5204F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5204F), registered now, S/N 17253195, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172F - Registry model: [Cessna 172F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (registry code 2072414) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17253195 - Engines: Continental O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: United States Air Force - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: OFF, Offutt AFB, NE - Destination: OLU, Columbus, NE - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: OLU, Columbus Municipal, runway 14, 6,800 × 100 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 15 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: OLU ## 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 20031015026629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031015026629A), Oct 15, 2003: Cessna 172F, Columbus, NE, Substantial damage. (-23) Student was on a cross country flight from the lemay flight training center, offutt afb (off), omaha, NE, to the Columbus Municipal Airport (olu)… 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.