# NTSB ERA11CA343: Cessna 172S, N6026P, Covington, GA, June 14, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 14, 2011, 14:24 local (18:24 UTC) - Place: Covington, GA - Coordinates: 33.62611, -83.841667 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6261&lon=-83.8417&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 19, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA Atlanta FSDO, FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 80764 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA343 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80764/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80764 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA343 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during 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: [Cessna 172S, 66 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/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 in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 49 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 118 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6026P-2013-04-02), registration cancelled 2013-04-02, S/N 172S10204, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S10204 - Airframe hours: 1972 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; 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 ## 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 20110614018179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110614018179A), Jun 14, 2011: Cessna 172S, Covington, GA, Destroyed. Interviewed [privacy data omitted] for over an hour regarding the accident he suffered on Tuesday, 14 jun., 2011, at Covington Airport (9A1) at approximate… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 30, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80764. 411 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 297 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349728&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Excerpts from Log Book (item 2, .PDF, 106 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349708&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpts%20from%20Log%20Book-Redacted.PDF - Lawrenceville (KLZU) Meteorological Conditions (item 3, .PDF, 9 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349709&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Lawrenceville%20(KLZU)%20Meteorological%20Conditions-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.