# NTSB ERA13CA086: Cessna 172P, N54500, Murfreesboro, TN, December 13, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: December 13, 2012, 08:20 local (14:20 UTC)
- Place: Murfreesboro, TN
- Coordinates: 35.873054, -86.373054 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8731&lon=-86.3731&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report April 3, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: Cessna, FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 85808
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA086
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85808/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85808
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA086

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [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 172P, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [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 172P, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072436), [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 172P, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot stated that during the practice soft field takeoff, he pulled the yoke back and applied full power. The airplane veered left and skidded off the runway where the propeller struck a concrete culvert. The skid continued across the grass and the airplane came to rest in a drainage area. Postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the wings, firewall, and fuselage. The student pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The student pilot stated that during the practice soft field takeoff, he pulled the yoke back and applied full power. The airplane veered left and skidded off the runway where the propeller struck a concrete culvert. The skid continued across the grass and the airplane came to rest in a drainage area. A post-accident examination conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the wings, firewall, and fuselage. The student pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N54500](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N54500-2014-11-18), registration cancelled 2014-11-18, S/N 17274990, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17274990
- Airframe hours: 7399
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: James K. Gardner, doing business as Jkg, LLC
- Registered owner: Skylark Flight Training LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 12, 2012, 1 hours before
- Departed: MBT, Murfreesboro, TN
- Destination: MBT, Murfreesboro, TN
- Airport: MBT, Murfreesboro Municipal, runway 36, 3,898 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 49; injuries: serious; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 52 total, 48 in this make and model, 11 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 30.42 inHg
- Observed at: MQY, 11 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 20121213028099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121213028099A), Dec 13, 2012: Cessna 172P, Murfreesboro, TN, Substantial damage. Student pilot was solo, practicing for his private pilot checkride. He was attempting a soft field takeoff, in which he had completed before, he loss control…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 4, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85808. 8.6 MB in all.

- Pilot / Operator Aircraft Accident Report NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384229&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20%2F%20Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum of Record - Pilot Interview (item 2, .PDF, 174 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384434&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Pilot%20Interview-Master.PDF
- Memorandum of Record - Smyrna Weather (item 3, .PDF, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384234&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Smyrna%20Weather-Master.PDF
- Photo 1: Front View of Airplane (item 4, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384439&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Front%20View%20of%20Airplane-Master.PDF
- Photo 2: Rear View of Airplane (item 5, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384438&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Rear%20View%20of%20Airplane-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.

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