# NTSB ERA11CA115: Cessna 172N, N1946F, Lebanon, TN, January 15, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 15, 2011, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Lebanon, TN - Coordinates: 36.190277, -86.315551 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1903&lon=-86.3156&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78163 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA115 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78163/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78163 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA115 ## Probable cause The student pilot´s failure to maintain directional control during an aborted takeoff, resulting in a runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 82 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 81 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 81 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 134 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot stated that the airplane’s left main tire felt flat during his third solo landing. After landing he taxied back to the fixed base operator (FBO) to have the tire checked. The FBO representative found no discrepancies and the pilot taxied back to the runway to continue the flight. During takeoff, as the airplane reached about 30 knots, the airplane began to bobble on the left side. In response the pilot retarded the engine power to idle and applied the brakes. The airplane continued toward the left off the runway, and came to a stop in a ditch, incurring substantial damage to the firewall. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident stated that the left wheel assembly did not reveal discrepancies that would have prevented normal operation of the assembly. ## Factual narrative The student pilot stated that the airplane’s left main tire felt flat during his third solo landing. After landing he taxied back to the fixed base operator (FBO) to have the tire checked. The FBO representative did not note any discrepancy, and the pilot taxied back to the runway to continue the flight training. During takeoff, as the airplane reached about 30 knots, the airplane began to bobble on the left side so the pilot reduced power back to idle and applied the brakes. The airplane continued toward the left off the runway, and came to a stop in a ditch,, incurring substantial damage to the firewall. The responding Federal Aviation Administration inspector stated that the left wheel assembly did not reveal discrepancies that would have prevented normal operation of the assembly. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1946F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1946F-2013-06-25), registration cancelled 2013-06-25, S/N 17273036, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17273036 - Airframe hours: 3616 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Redi Air - Registered owner: RJC Enterprise LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 5, 2011, 9 hours before - Departed: M54, Lebanon, TN - Destination: M54, Lebanon, TN - Airport: M54, Lebanon Municipal Airport, runway 19, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 21; injuries: none; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 14 total, 13 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.27 inHg - Observed at: BNA, 17 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 20110115000229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110115000229A), Jan 15, 2011: Cessna 172N, Lebanon, TN, Substantial damage. On takeoff roll, student pilot lost directional control of aircraft. Aircraft departed runway, crossed a grassy area and a taxiway, and went into a ditch. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 2, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78163. 924 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 693 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344941&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Reports from Federal Agencies: Federal Aviation Administration Inspector's Statement and Provided Documents. (item 2, .PDF, 231 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344943&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies%3A%20Federal%20Aviation%20Administration%20Inspector%27s%20Statement%20and%20Provided%20Documents.-Redacted.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.