# NTSB ERA21LA311: Cessna 172, N805CP, Martinsburg, WV, July 31, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 31, 2021, 18:18 local (22:18 UTC)
- Place: Martinsburg, WV
- Coordinates: 39.402357, -77.982999 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4024&lon=-77.9830&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103609
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA311
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103609/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103609
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA311

## Probable cause

The flight instructor’s loss of directional control after an aerodynamic stall at takeoff.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Textron 172S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=2072449), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Textron 172S, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072449), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093) (defining event); cases with it: [Textron 172S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=2072449), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor was demonstrating a soft field takeoff maneuver with 10° of flaps. After lift-off, the airplane “suddenly” and immediately yawed to its left. Both the angle of attack indicator and the stall warning horn provided audible alerts as the pitch attitude exceeded 10° on the primary flight display. The airplane rolled left, right, and left again before it touched down, transitioned a grass area, and came to rest upright on a taxiway. The pilots egressed the airplane unhurt and discovered substantial damage to the left wing. The flight crew reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the performance and handling of the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N805CP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N805CP), registered now, S/N 172S12625, built 2021 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (S)
- Registry model: [Textron 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/textron-172s) (registry code 2072449) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172S12625
- Year built: 2021
- Airframe hours: 141.5
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Civil Air Patrol Inc
- Registered owner: Civil Air Patrol Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 29, 2021, 59.3 hours before
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: MRB, Eastern Wv Rgnl/Shepherd Fld, runway 08/26, 8,815 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Handheld GPS, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Data recorder

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 42; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 812 total, 686 in this make and model, 657 as pilot in command, 152 in the last 90 days, 69 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 18; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 42 total, 38 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observed at: KMRB
- METAR: KMRB 312053Z AUTO 10004KT 10SM CLR 27/12 A2993 RMK AO2 SLP131 T02670122 57016

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 20210731022589I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210731022589I), Jul 31, 2021: Textron Aviation Inc 172S, Martinsburg, WV, Minor damage. A/c veered off the runway and struck the left wingtip on the ground during departure. 2 POB. No known injuries. Damage extent unknown

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 29, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103609. 3.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 13 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12566210&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1%20N805CP_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 643 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12566584&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%20Photo%20Array-Rel.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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