- Date
- June 14, 2011, 14:24 local (18:24 UTC)
- Place
- Covington, GA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N6026PCessna 172S
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 19, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA Atlanta FSDO, FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20110614018179A
- Case key
- 80764
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 pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.
Findings · 2
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.
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
According to the solo student pilot, the purpose of the flight was to practice takeoffs and landings. He departed his home airport, and flew a short distance to practice at the accident airport where he completed six uneventful takeoffs and landings. The pilot then configured the airplane for a short field takeoff and applied takeoff power. He said the airplane lifted from the runway at 50 knots, he pushed the nose down, and the right wing "suddenly lifted up." The airplane diverted 45 degrees to the left of the runway and the pilot elected to abort the takeoff. During the aborted takeoff the left wing and left main landing gear struck the ground and the airplane rotated 180 degrees. The airplane came to rest facing opposite the direction of travel, with the left wing separated, and a postcrash fire ensued. After the accident, the pilot reported that there were no deficiencies with the performance and handling of the airplane.
Factual narrative
According to the solo student pilot, the purpose of the flight was to practice takeoffs and landings. He departed his home airport, and flew a short distance to practice at the accident airport where he completed six uneventful takeoffs and landings. The pilot then configured the airplane for a "short field takeoff" and applied takeoff power. He said the airplane lifted from the runway at 50 knots, he "pushed the nose down" and the right wing "suddenly lifted up." The airplane diverted 45 degrees to the left of the runway and the pilot elected to abort the takeoff. During the aborted takeoff the left wing and left main landing gear struck the ground and the airplane rotated 180 degrees. The airplane came to rest facing opposite the direction of travel, with the left wing separated, and the airplane on fire. The pilot had opened the door during the accident sequence, and then deployed the fire extinguisher as he freed himself and egressed the airplane with no injury. After the accident, the pilot reported that there were no deficiencies with the performance and handling of the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6026P
- Reported as
- Cessna 172S
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 172S10204
- Airframe hours
- 1,972
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-L2A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Wheeler Equipment Leasing LLC
- Registered owner
- Wheeler Equipment Leasing LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 11, 2011 · 12 hours before
- Departed
- 9A1 · Covington, GA
- Destination
- 9A1 · Covington, GA
- Airport
- 9A1 · Convington Municipal Airport, runway 28, 5,500 × 75 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
- 63
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 142 total · 142 in this make and model · 10 as pilot in command · 58 in the last 90 days · 35 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.95 inHg
- Observed at
- LZU, 22 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 30, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 411 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.