- Date
- April 20, 1995, 17:37 local (21:37 UTC)
- Place
- Detroit, MI
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N5208DCessna 172N
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 8, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950420012839A
- Case key
- 9873
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 the takeoff ground run. A factor associated with the accident was the soft terrain.
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 student reported the airplane veered to the left during the takeoff run. The student stated she applied right rudder to no avail. The airplane traveled off the side of the runway into soft terrain where the nose gear collapsed.
Factual narrative
On April 20, 1995, at 1737 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N5208D, collided with the terrain while taking off on runway 15 (5,147' x 100') at the Detroit City Airport, Detroit, Michigan, while on a solo instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The local 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating under a flight plan. The airplane was substantially damaged and the student pilot was not injured.
The student stated that during the takeoff ground run, the airplane veered to the left. She stated she applied right rudder, however, the airplane continued off the side of the runway. The airplane traveled into the soft grass area where the nose gear collapsed.
Inspection of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector failed to reveal any mechanical anomalies which would have resulted in the loss of directional control.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5208D
- Reported as
- Cessna 172N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17272451
- Airframe hours
- 2,542
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-H2AD, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Janet Andalora
- Registered owner
- Aerovest, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 29, 1994 · 96 hours before
- Departed
- DET
- Airport
- DET · Detroit City, runway 15, 5,090 × 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
- Pilot
- Age
- 46
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 66 total · 65 in this make and model · 21 as pilot in command · 27 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 12 knots
- Visibility
- 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 4,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 43 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- DET
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.