# NTSB ERA11CA446: Cessna 172S, N65777, St. Augustine, FL, August 8, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 8, 2011, 12:57 local (16:57 UTC) - Place: St. Augustine, FL - Coordinates: 30.01052, -81.410774 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0105&lon=-81.4108&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 17, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81440 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA446 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81440/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81440 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA446 ## Probable cause The student pilot's loss of directional control while attempting to close the airplane's door during takeoff roll. ## 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, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Action: unnecessary action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041045): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the student pilot, she completed one solo full-stop landing in the traffic pattern before the accident sequence. She taxied the airplane back to runway, was cleared for takeoff, and advanced the throttle to full forward. Soon she realized that the left door was open and she attempted to close it. According to the flight instructor monitoring the solo flight, the airplane departed the left side of the runway, bounced once, the nose wheel struck the ground, and the airplane came to rest inverted. The airplane incurred substantial damage to the firewall and empennage. The student pilot reported there were no preexisting mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative According to the student pilot, she completed one solo full stop landing in the pattern before the accident sequence. She taxied the airplane back to runway, was cleared for takeoff, and advanced the throttle to full forward. Soon she realized that the left door was open and she attempted to close it. According to the flight instructor monitoring the solo flight, the airplane departed the left side of the runway, bounced once, the nose wheel struck the ground, and the airplane came to rest inverted. The airplane incurred substantial damage to the firewall and empennage. The student pilot reported there were no preexisting mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: N65777 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S9758 - Airframe hours: 4589 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Florida Flyers - Registered owner: Christiansen Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 11, 2011 - Departed: SGJ, St. Augustine, FL - Destination: SGJ, St. Augustine, FL - Airport: SGJ, St. Augustine Airport, runway 31, 7,996 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 27; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 18 total, 18 in this make and model, 18 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 10 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: SGJ ## 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 20110808018469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110808018469A), Aug 8, 2011: Cessna 172S, St. Augustine, FL, Substantial damage. The student pilot advised that after dropping off her flight instructor at the tower she did one successful landing and full stop on runway 31. She taxied back… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 9, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81440. 922 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 291 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352896&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Local Sheriff Report (item 2, .PDF, 412 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352905&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Local%20Sheriff%20Report-Redacted.PDF - KSGJ Weather Observations (item 3, .PDF, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352720&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=KSGJ%20Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF - Photo 1: View of Damaged Airplane (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 94 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352893&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20View%20of%20Damaged%20Airplane%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.