# NTSB ERA15CA056: Cessna 172S, N60155, Sarasota, FL, November 12, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: November 12, 2014, 16:33 local (21:33 UTC)
- Place: Sarasota, FL
- Coordinates: 27.395555, -82.554443 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.3956&lon=-82.5544&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 7, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- NTSB case key (mKey): 90409
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15CA056
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90409/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90409
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA056

## Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during the initial climb, resulting in a runway excursion and substantial damage to the engine firewall. The student pilot's lack of overall flying experience was a factor.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/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)
- [Experience/qualifications: total experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 126 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Initial climb: 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)
- [Landing: 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)

## Analysis

According to the student pilot, he was performing his second solo flight, and he reported a total flying time of 45 hours. As the airplane became airborne during the initial takeoff, it "…violently veered 90 degrees to the left." He immediately applied right rudder and reduced the throttle to idle. The airplane was landed on the left side of the runway and it departed the runway surface, into the grass. It then crossed the intersecting runway. As the airplane approached a taxiway, the pilot brought it to a full stop. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that the excursion resulted in a buckling of the engine firewall. The student pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane at the time of the accident. A review of local wind conditions at the airport did not reveal evidence of gusts.

## Factual narrative

According to the student pilot, he was performing his second solo flight, and he reported a total flying time of 45 hours. As the airplane became airborne during the initial takeoff, it "…violently veered 90 degrees to the left." He immediately applied right rudder and reduced the throttle to idle. The airplane was landed on the left side of the runway and it departed the runway surface, into the grass. It then crossed the intersecting runway. As the airplane approached a taxiway, the pilot brought it to a full stop. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that the excursion resulted in a buckling of the engine firewall. The student pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane at the time of the accident. A review of local wind conditions at the airport did not reveal evidence of gusts.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N60155](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N60155), registered now, S/N 172S10167, 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: 172S10167
- Year built: 2006
- Airframe hours: 3452
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 23, 2014, 8 hours before
- Departed: SRQ, Sarasota, FL
- Destination: SRQ, Sarasota, FL
- Airport: SRQ, Sarasota Bradenton Intl, runway 04, 5,009 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 44; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 45 total, 45 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observed at: SRQ

## 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 20141112021949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141112021949A), Nov 12, 2014: Cessna 172S, Sarasota, FL, Substantial damage. Student pilot (solo) lost control of aircraft on takeoff roll. Aircraft departed runway 04 crossing runway 14. Aircraft came to a stop on taxiway ?c? And was…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 31, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90409. 2.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424340&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- FAA Correspondence with Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424341&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Correspondence%20with%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF
- NTSB Correspondence with Operator (item 3, .PDF, 86 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424342&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Correspondence%20with%20Operator-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1 – Engine Firewall (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 568 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424343&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Engine%20Firewall%20%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)%0D%0A%09-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 – Engine Firewall (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 468 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424344&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20Engine%20Firewall%20%20(Photo%20Courtesy%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.

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