ERA11CA244

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172S · Saint Petersburg, FL · April 13, 2011

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
April 13, 2011, 18:55 local (22:55 UTC)
Place
Saint Petersburg, FL
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N2468ZCessna 172S
Defining event
Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report August 22, 2011
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Eastern Region Aviation
Parties
FAA/FSDO
FAA report
20110413006079A
Case key
78871

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 failure of the student pilot to maintain directional control during a touch-and-go landing.

Findings · 3

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedCessna 172S: 66 casesAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause
Action: lack of actionPersonnel issues › Action/decision · PilotCessna 172S: 14 casesAll aircraft: 792 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The student pilot stated that after takeoff during his second supervised solo flight, he remained in the traffic pattern and landed uneventfully. During the landing roll he elected to perform a touch-and-go landing and applied power for takeoff. Immediately after adding power, the airplane turned left. He applied right rudder to correct the left turn but then decided to perform a full stop landing. He applied the brakes in an effort to keep the airplane on the runway, and reduced power before the airplane departed the runway, and went into water while traveling about 30 knots. The student pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The student's certified flight instructor stated that after veering to the left, the airplane exited the runway, crossed a perpendicular runway, and then impacted a ditch at which time he heard power applied. He then observed the airplane travel into the water and ran to the airplane to assist his student. Postaccident inspection of the flight controls revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and fuselage.

Factual narrative

The student pilot stated that after takeoff during his second supervised solo flight, he remained in the traffic pattern and landed uneventfully, but during the landing roll elected to perform a touch-and-go landing and applied power. Immediately after adding power, the airplane turned left and he used rudder to correct the left turn but then decided to perform a full stop landing. He applied the brakes in an effort to keep the airplane on the runway, and reduced power, then added a little power inadvertently because he was nervous, then reduced power. The airplane departed the runway, and went into water while traveling about 30 knots. The student pilot further stated there was no preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction. The students’ certified flight instructor stated that after veering to the left, the airplane exited the runway onto grass, crossed runway 25, and then went into a ditch at which time he heard power applied. He then watched the airplane travel into the water and ran to the airplane to assist his student. Postaccident inspection of the flight controls by a Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction.

Aircraft

Registration
N2468Z
Reported as
Cessna 172S
Category
Airplane
Serial number
172S10065
Airframe hours
2,441
Engine
Lycoming IO-360-L2A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Bay Air Flying Service
Registered owner
VL Aviation, LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · March 10, 2011
Departed
SPG · Saint Petersburg, FL
Destination
SPG · Saint Petersburg, FL
Airport
SPG · Albert Whitted Airport, runway 36, 2,864 × 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
19
Injuries
None
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Seat
Left
Flight hours
18 total · 18 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
340° at 10 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
75 °F, dew point 46 °F
Altimeter
29.96 inHg
Observed at
SPG

Docket · 4

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 20, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 696 KB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

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