# NTSB ERA12CA330: Cessna 172R, N5253B, Immokalee, FL, May 11, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 11, 2012, 09:00 local (13:00 UTC) - Place: Immokalee, FL - Coordinates: 26.43361, -81.40139 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.4336&lon=-81.4014&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 7, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83608 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA330 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83608/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83608 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA330 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during a touch-and-go landing. ## 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 172R, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 75 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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 on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot demonstrated three successful touch-and-go landings. After the third touch-and-go landing, the flight instructor deplaned, and the student pilot successfully performed eight solo touch-and-go landings on the same runway. The student pilot reported that while he was on final approach for the ninth solo touch-and-go landing, he heard the pilot of a helicopter announce the intention to fly over the landing runway. The student pilot announced that he had the helicopter in sight and advised of his intention to perform a touch-and-go landing on the runway. The student pilot landed and said he then applied full throttle before retracting the flaps. The airplane started to drift to the left and the right wing lifted, so the student pilot reduced the power to idle and applied aft control yoke then waited for the airplane to come to rest. The flight instructor reported seeing the helicopter fly over the airplane while it was on the runway during the landing roll. The flight instructor also noted that the student pilot had not retracted the flaps and saw the airplane veer sharply to the left and then cart wheel, coming to rest upright. The operator reported there was no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction of the airplane. Postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed damage to the firewall. ## Factual narrative The flight departed Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, and proceeded to the Immokalee Regional Airport where the student pilot demonstrated to the on-board certified flight instructor (CFI) three successful touch-and-go (T&G) landings to runway 27. Following the 3rd T&G landing, the CFI deplaned, and the student pilot departed from the same runway and remained in the traffic pattern performing 8 additional T&G landings on the same runway. During final approach for the 9th T&G landing, the student pilot reported hearing the pilot of a helicopter announce the intention to fly over runway 27. The student pilot reported he announced on the common traffic advisory frequency that he had the helicopter in sight, and his intention to perform a T&G landing on runway 27. The student pilot landed, and after touchdown during the landing roll, he applied full throttle before retracting the flaps. The airplane started to drift to the left and the right wing raised. The student pilot reduced the power to idle and applied aft control yoke then waited for the airplane to come to rest. The CFI reported seeing the helicopter flying in a southerly direction, and the helicopter flew directly overhead the airplane while it was on the runway during the landing roll. The CFI noted the student pilot did not retract the flaps and the airplane veered sharply to the left, then cart wheeled coming to rest upright. The operator reported there was no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction of the airplane. Postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed damage to the firewall. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5253B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5253B-2013-02-28), registration cancelled 2013-02-28, S/N 17281124, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172R - Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17281124 - Airframe hours: 3784 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Atp USA - Registered owner: Aviation Training LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 16, 2012 - Departed: IMM, Immokalee, FL - Destination: IMM, Immokalee, FL - Airport: IMM, Immokalee Regional Airport, runway 27, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 25; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 51 total, 51 in this make and model, 51 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: RSW, 20 nm away ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 30, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83608. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 542 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374388&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 104 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374389&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statements (item 3, .PDF, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375009&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Statement and Diagram from Certified Flight Instructor (item 4, .PDF, 268 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375008&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20and%20Diagram%20from%20Certified%20Flight%20Instructor-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: Digital Photograph Provided by FAA. View Depicting Damage to the Firewall. (item 5, .PDF, 759 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375022&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Digital%20Photograph%20Provided%20by%20FAA.%20View%20Depicting%20Damage%20to%20the%20Firewall.-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.