# NTSB ERA12LA445: Cessna 172S, N680MA, Allentown, PA, July 9, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 9, 2012, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Allentown, PA - Coordinates: 40.570278, -75.488334 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5703&lon=-75.4883&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 13, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84289 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12LA445 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84289/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84289 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA445 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a touch-and-go takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and a subsequent impact with a gopher hole, and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the student pilot and his delayed remedial action. ## 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) - [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 172S, 206 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/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 172S, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072439), [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 172S, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/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 While the student pilot was conducting touch-and-go landings, about the time of power application after landing, the airplane veered left and departed the runway onto the adjacent grass. The airplane subsequently struck a sign, impacted a gopher hole, and came to rest near a berm, sustaining substantial damage to the airframe and horizontal stabilizer. Three distinct tire tracks were visible in the grass up to the gopher hole. A postaccident examination of the left main landing gear assembly revealed overstress fractures from a single loading event, which was likely the impact with the gopher hole; no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation were found. FAA guidance indicates that an abrupt application of power may result in the airplane yawing sharply to the left. It is likely that at the application of takeoff power, the student pilot failed to apply an appropriate amount of rudder correction and the airplane departed the runway. The flight instructor did not recognize the student’s failure to maintain directional control in a timely manner and failed to take appropriate remedial. ## Factual narrative On July 9, 2012, about 1700 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172S, N680MA, was substantially damaged when it veered off the runway during touch-and-go landing at Allentown Queen City Municipal Airport (XLL), Allentown, Pennsylvania. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the airframe and the horizontal stabilizer. The airplane was operated by Gateway Aviation under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a local instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. According to the pilots, they had been performing touch-and-go practice landing. After landing, around the time of power application, the airplane veered off the left side of the runway. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the airplane exited the runway into the adjacent grass, crossed a taxiway and intersecting runway, impacted an airport sign, and came to rest near a berm. There were three distinct tire marks noted in the grass from the point where the airplane initially exited the edge of the runway to a point past where the sign had been impacted, up to a hole in the ground similar to a "gopher hole." Initial examination revealed that the left main landing gear axle was impact separated and the associated tire was located about two weeks after the accident, in a ditch, approximately 300 feet from where the airplane had come to rest and was inflated. The 1655 recorded weather observation at XLL included wind from 240 degrees at 4 knots, visibility 10 miles, temperature 29 degrees C, dew point 12 degrees C; barometric altimeter 29.94 inches of mercury. According to maintenance personnel the airplane had been examined several times in the preceding two weeks for an unusual vibration emanating from the left main landing gear. The left main landing gear axle and associated parts, including the left wheel, were examined at the NTSB's Materials Laboratory. The examination revealed that the fractures were consistent with overstress from a single loading event. A detailed examination report, including photographs, is included in the docket that accompanies this accident. The FAA Airplane Flying Handbook, FAA-H-8083-3A, chapter 5, states, in part, the following about takeoffs: "…the throttle should be advanced smoothly and continuously to takeoff power. An abrupt application of power may cause the airplane to yaw sharply to the left because of the torque effects of the engine and propeller…" ## Aircraft - Registration: [N680MA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N680MA), registered now, S/N 172S8202, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S8202 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Gateway Aviation - Registered owner: Christiansen Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 13, 2012 - Departed: XLL, Allentown, PA - Destination: XLL, Allentown, PA - Airport: XLL, Allentown Queen City Municipal, runway 25, 3,949 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 23; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 1,000 total, 650 in this make and model, 980 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days - Student pilot; age 60; injuries: none; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 20 total, 20 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: XLL ## 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 20120709018709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120709018709A), Jul 9, 2012: Cessna 172S, Allentown, PA, Substantial damage. Student lost control of the aircraft during a touch and go on runway 25. Aircraft veered left and hit airport sign. The aircraft continued across the grass and… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 11, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84289. 6.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Flight Instructor (item 1, .PDF, 499 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373810&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Flight%20Instructor-Redacted.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Student Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 275 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373121&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Student%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF - Email from CFI about landings (item 3, .PDF, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374756&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Email%20from%20CFI%20about%20landings-Redacted.PDF - Materials Laboratory 15 - Factual Report 12-092 (with 6 embedded images) (item 4, .PDF, 790 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40376047&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Materials%20Laboratory%2015%20-%20Factual%20Report%2012-092%20(with%206%20embedded%20images)-Master.PDF - Memorandum of Record - FAA Inspector (item 5, .PDF, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373811&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Queen City Airport Weather (item 6, .PDF, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373123&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Queen%20City%20Airport%20Weather-Master.PDF - Reports from Local Agencies -Airport Authority (item 7, .PDF, 485 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373122&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Local%20Agencies%20-Airport%20Authority-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: Left Side of Aircraft After Recovery (Courtesy of the FAA) (item 8, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374001&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Left%20Side%20of%20Aircraft%20After%20Recovery%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Damage to Left Stabilizer (Courtesy of the FAA) (item 9, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374002&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Damage%20to%20Left%20Stabilizer%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%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.