- Date
- January 31, 2020, 14:05 local (19:05 UTC)
- Place
- Crystal River, FL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N739XTCessna 172
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 27, 2020
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20200131001609A
- Case key
- 100903
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent nose-over.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The student pilot reported that, during the preflight inspection for his second solo flight, "the rudder pedals felt as if they had less resistance than normal." While conducting the takeoff, the airplane veered left, so he applied right rudder, but he was unable to regain directional control. The airplane exited the runway onto the adjacent grass and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the left-wing lift strut, and the vertical stabilizer. The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The Federal Aviation Administrator inspector who examined the airplane after the accident confirmed flight control continuity and reported no anomalies with the flight controls or brakes.
Factual narrative
The student pilot reported that, during the preflight inspection for his second solo flight, "the rudder pedals felt as if they had less resistance than normal." While conducting the second taking off, the airplane veered left, he applied right rudder but was unable to regain directional control. The airplane exited the runway to the left, on to the adjacent grass and nosed over.The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the left wing lift strut, and the vertical stabilizer. A Federal Aviation Administrator inspector who examined the airplane after the accident confirmed flight control continuity and reported no anomalies with the flight controls or brakes.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N739XT
- Reported as
- Cessna 172 (N)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17270895
- Built
- 1978
- Airframe hours
- 4,870
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-H2AD, 160 hp, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Crystal Aero Group
- Registered owner
- S.O.W. Aviation Llc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · January 24, 2020
- Departed
- CGC · Crystal River, FL
- Destination
- CGC · Crystal River, FL
- Airport
- CGC · Crystal River-Captain Tom Davi, runway 27, 4,557 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- ADS-B
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 22
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 22.2 total · 22.2 in this make and model · 0.5 as pilot in command · 22.2 in the last 90 days · 17.5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.95 inHg
- Observed at
- KCGC
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 25, 2020, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 908 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.