- Date
- February 23, 2007, 08:54 local (13:54 UTC)
- Place
- Holland, MI
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N5321DCessna 172N
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 29, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA-Grand Rapids FSDO
- FAA report
- 20070223002299A
- Case key
- 65395
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 inadequate compensation for the crosswind condition and his failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff, which caused the airplane to impact the snow bank and nose over. Contributing factors were the crosswind and the snow bank along the edge of the runway.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane was substantially damaged when it struck a snow bank at the edge of the runway during takeoff and nosed over. The student pilot was not injured. The pilot reported that the start-up, taxi, and before takeoff inspection were normal. He noted that wind information was missing from the automated weather broadcast at the departure airport. Based on his observation of the wind sock, he estimated the winds were from 160 degrees at 8 knots. He selected runway 8 (6,264 feet by 100 feet, asphalt) for takeoff. The pilot stated that about 45 knots during the takeoff roll, the airplane started drifting to the left. When right rudder did not stop the drift, he applied the brake and reduced engine power. However, the airplane subsequently struck the snow bank adjacent to the edge of the runway and nosed over. A post accident inspection did not reveal any anomalies with the brakes or nose wheel steering consistent with a pre-impact failure.
Factual narrative
The airplane was substantially damaged when it struck a snow bank at the edge of the runway during takeoff and nosed over. The student pilot was not injured. The pilot reported that the start-up, taxi, and before takeoff inspection were normal. He noted that wind information was missing from the automated weather broadcast at the departure airport. Based on his observation of the wind sock, he estimated the winds were from 160 degrees at 8 knots. He selected runway 8 (6,264 feet by 100 feet, asphalt) for takeoff. The pilot stated that about 45 knots during the takeoff roll, the airplane started drifting to the left. When right rudder did not stop the drift, he applied the brake and reduced engine power. However, the airplane subsequently struck the snow bank adjacent to the edge of the runway and nosed over. A post accident inspection did not reveal any anomalies with the brakes or nose wheel steering consistent with a pre-impact failure.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5321D
- Reported as
- Cessna 172N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17272516
- Airframe hours
- 13,147
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-H2AD, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Tulip City Air Service, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 1, 2007 · 3.7 hours before
- Departed
- BIV · Holland, MI
- Destination
- LDM · Ludington, MI
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- BIV · Tulip City, runway 8, 6,264 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 20
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 1, 2007
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 48 total · 44 in this make and model · 10 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 23 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.42 inHg
- Observed at
- BIV
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N5321D · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.