# NTSB ERA11CA039: Cessna 172P, N612CB, Tampa, FL, October 28, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 28, 2010, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Tampa, FL - Coordinates: 28.219165, -82.372497 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.2192&lon=-82.3725&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77682 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA039 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77682/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77682 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA039 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a short-field takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,969 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,308 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 4,590 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,656 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,154 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the student pilot, he was practicing short-field takeoffs. During the second takeoff roll, the airplane veered to the left. He attempted to correct the left turn with right rudder, however, a cushion was lodged under the rudder pedals. The airplane subsequently departed the left side of the runway and collided with a pole and two vehicles. During the accident sequence, the airplane incurred damage to the left wing, firewall, and left horizontal stabilizer. The student pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane. An examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed a cushion lodged under the left rudder pedal; the inspector noted that the cushion did not hinder the operation of the rudder. The wind reported at an airport 12 miles to the south of the accident location were calm. ## Factual narrative According to the student pilot, he was practicing short-field takeoffs from runway 32, a 3,541-foot-long, 50-foot-wide, asphalt runway. During the second takeoff roll, the airplane turned to the left and the student pilot attempted to correct the left turn with right rudder; however, a cushion was lodged under the rudder pedals. The airplane subsequently departed the left side of the runway, struck a pole and two cars, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing, firewall, and left horizontal stabilizer. The student pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane. He further reported 34 hours of total flight experience, which included 7 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane. An examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed a cushion lodged under the left rudder pedal; however, the cushion did not hinder the operation of the rudder. The winds reported at an airport 12 miles to the south of the accident location were calm. ## Aircraft - Registration: N612CB (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17275186 - Airframe hours: 6565 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Helicopter Structural And Maintenance Inc DBA - Registered owner: Helicopter Structural And Maintenance Inc DBA - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 14, 2010, 13 hours before - Departed: X39, Tampa, FL - Destination: X39, Tampa, FL - Airport: X39, Tampa North Aero Park, runway 32, 3,541 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 34 total, 7 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: VDF, 12 nm away ## 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 20101028051299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101028051299A), Oct 28, 2010: Cessna 172P, Lutz, FL, Substantial damage. During takeoff roll from runway 32 the aircraft veered left, departed the runway, and crashed into two vehicles in a parking lot. Cockpit controls confirm… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 23, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77682. 452 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 361 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339594&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339596&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement Memorandum (item 3, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339706&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement%20Memorandum-Master.PDF - Witness Statement (item 4, .PDF, 15 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339598&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports: KVDF METARs (item 5, .PDF, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339599&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%3A%20KVDF%20METARs-Master.PDF 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.