# NTSB ERA17LA293: Cessna 172, N73929, Guntersville, AL, August 21, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 21, 2017, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Guntersville, AL - Coordinates: 34.406112, -86.260833 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4061&lon=-86.2608&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 April 8, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 95891 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA17LA293 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95891/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95891 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA293 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control on takeoff. ## 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 · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 150 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072434), [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 172N, 82 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/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 172N, 81 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072434), [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 172N, 81 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072434), [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 172N, 134 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the takeoff roll after a touch-and-go landing, the airplane veered sharply to the left and departed the runway. The private pilot was unable to stop the left turn, even with full right rudder applied, and the airplane traveled down a slope and into brush. The airplane was recovered and inspected by a local mechanic, who spoke with the operator and determined that the airplane was not substantially damaged and that there were no mechanical issues with the nosewheel. The pilot subsequently chose to take off and then perform a touch-and-go landing before flying the airplane back to his home airport. He stated that the takeoff and landing were normal, but when he added power to take off again, the airplane veered left off the runway, even with full right rudder applied. The nosewheel struck an object, which resulted in damage to the engine mounts, propeller, and airframe. According to the operator, the airplane had no previous mechanical problems with steering or the nosewheel. Because the airplane had no previous records of problems with steering or the nosewheel, the mechanic did not find any mechanical issues after the first runway excursion, and the pilot was able to successfully take off before the touch-and-go, it is likely that the pilot failed to maintain directional control on takeoff. ## Factual narrative On August 21, 2017, about 1430 central daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N73929, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from the Guntersville Municipal Airport (8A1), Guntersville, Alabama. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to a private corporation and operated by Henderson Aviation. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that was being conducted as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight. A visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight that was destined for the Tom B. David Airport (CZL), Calhoun, Georgia.The pilot stated that he departed CZL earlier that day and flew direct to 8A1, where he planned to do a touch-and-go landing and then return to CZL. He stated that he made a normal landing on runway 07, but when the nose wheel touched down, the airplane began to shake. The shaking dissipated as the airplane slowed down. The pilot then raised the flaps, turned off the carburetor heat and applied full throttle to take off. As the airplane began to accelerate, it veered sharply to the left and departed the runway. The pilot was unable to stop the left turn even with full right rudder applied and the airplane traveled down a slope and into brush. The pilot called the operator of the airplane, who called the airport for assistance to have the airplane towed back on to the runway. The airplane was inspected by a mechanic, who determined that it was not "severely" damaged; thus, the pilot decided to fly the airplane back to CZL. The pilot elected to perform one touch-and-go landing at CZL before returning to 8A1. He said the takeoff and landing were normal, but when he added engine power to takeoff again, the airplane again veered left off the runway even with full right rudder applied. The nose wheel struck an object, which resulted in damage to the engine mounts, propeller, and airframe. According to the operator, after the first incident, he talked to the mechanic at 8A1 and it was determined that there was no damage to the airplane and no mechanical issues were identified with the nose-wheel. The operator offered to come pick the pilot up if he did not want to fly the airplane back to Georgia, but the pilot declined. A short while later, the operator received a text message that the airplane had gone off the runway again and was more heavily damaged. The operator then flew to Guntersville and picked up the pilot. The operator said that the airplane had no previous mechanical problems with steering or with the nose wheel. The airplane was a "daily rental" and flew regularly. The operator, who was also a flight instructor, flew with the pilot after the accident and performed 7-9 takeoffs and landings without incident. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land. He reported a total flight experience of 119 hours, of which 16 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane. The pilot's last Federal AviationAdministration (FAA) third-class medical certificate was issued on April 26, 2017. The weather at Albertville Regional Airport (8A0), Albertville, Alabama, about 11 miles south of the accident site, at 1435, was reported as wind from 190° at 3 knots, visibility 10 miles, clouds broken at 5,000 ft, temperature 31° C, dew point 25° C, and an altimeter setting of 30.15 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N73929](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N73929), registered now, S/N 17267753, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (N) - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17267753 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 8697.4 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 8A1, Guntersville, AL - Destination: CZL, Calhoun, GA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 8A1, Guntersville Muni - Joe Starne, runway 07, 5,005 × 75 ft, concrete - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 9, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 119 total, 16 in this make and model, 60 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: 8A0, 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 20170821011289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170821011289A), Aug 21, 2017: Cessna 172N, Guntersville, AL, Substantial damage. Pilot departed calhoun, ga on a cross country flight to Guntersville, AL. The takeoff and enroute portion from calhoun to Guntersville was uneventful. The… ## Other investigations on N73929 (1) 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. - [NTSB MIA90LA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA90LA080), Mar 7, 1990: Cessna 172N (N73929), Clearwater, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE AND IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN A PORPOISE AND LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE GUSTY CROSSWIND, AND… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 11, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95891. 4.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469290&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Written Statement - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 94 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469291&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Written%20Statement%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Photo Log Prepared by Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 12 photos, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469292&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Log%20Prepared%20by%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Larry Henderson (item 4, .PDF, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469293&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Larry%20Henderson-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.