DFW06CA098

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172S · Denton, TX · April 9, 2006

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
April 9, 2006, 08:43 local (13:43 UTC)
Place
Denton, TX
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N358TWCessna 172S
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report August 29, 2006
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA FSDO
FAA report
20060409003809A
Case key
63461

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll.

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.

Loss of control - on ground/waterTakeoff - roll/run
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
On ground/water collision with objectTakeoff

Analysis

The 8-hour student pilot lost control of the tricycle gear single-engine airplane during the takeoff roll on his first solo flight. Witnesses at the airport reported that prior to his first solo flight, the student pilot and his flight instructor had completed 7 touch and go landings without incident. The flight instructor exited the 2004 model airplane and endorsed the student pilot's logbook for his first supervised solo flight. While on the takeoff roll from runway 17, the airplane was observed drifting off the east side of the runway onto the grass for about 600 to 800 feet. When the airplane crossed taxiway Alpha 4, the nose landing gear collapsed upon impact with the lip of taxiway Alpha 4. Runway 17 was described as a 5,999-foot long, by 150-foot wide, asphalt runway, which was reported to be dry at the time of the mishap. An FAA inspector, who traveled to the accident site, reported that there was no evidence of braking being applied on the runway surface. He added that no anomalies were found with the aircraft nose wheel steering nor the braking system of the airplane. The instructional flight originated from another airport located 23 nautical miles southeast of the mishap airport. The weather at the airport at the time of the mishap was reported as clear skies with winds from 120 degrees at 4 knots.

Factual narrative

The 8-hour student pilot lost control of the tricycle gear single-engine airplane during the takeoff roll on his first solo flight. Witnesses at the airport reported that prior to his first solo flight, the student pilot and his flight instructor had completed 7 touch and go landings without incident. The flight instructor dismounted the 2004 model airplane and endorsed the student pilot's logbook for his first supervised solo flight. While on the takeoff roll from runway 17, the airplane was observed drifting off the east side of the runway onto the grass for about 600 to 800 feet. When the airplane crossed taxiway Alpha 4, the nose landing gear collapsed upon impact with the lip of taxiway Alpha 4. Runway 17 was described as a 5,999-foot long, by 150-foot wide, asphalt runway, which was reported to be dry at the time of the mishap. An FAA inspector, who traveled to the accident site, reported that there was no evidence of braking being applied on the runway surface. He added that no anomalies were found with the aircraft nose wheel steering nor the braking system of the airplane. The instructional flight originated from another airport located 23 nautical miles southeast of the mishap airport. The weather at the airport at the time of the mishap was reported as clear skies with winds from 120 degrees at 4 knots.

Aircraft

Registration
N358TW
Reported as
Cessna 172S
Category
Airplane
Serial number
172S9751
Engine
Lycoming IO-360-L2A, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Monarch Air, doing business as Monarch Air - Addison
Registered owner
Jackson Aviation, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
ADS · Addison, TX
Destination
DTO · Denton, TX
Airport
DTO · Denton Municipal, runway 17, 5,999 × 150 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
39
Injuries
None
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 3
Seat
Left
Flight hours
8 total · 8 in this make and model · 8 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
120° at 4 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
61 °F
Altimeter
30.18 inHg
Observed at
DTO

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.