# NTSB ERA21LA320: Cessna 172, N5412D, Miami, FL, August 6, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 6, 2021, 11:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Miami, FL - Coordinates: 25.643451, -80.427943 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.6435&lon=-80.4279&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - 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/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103671 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA320 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103671/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103671 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA320 ## Probable cause The failure of the flight instructor to maintain the proper rate of descent during the aborted takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Unknown/Not determined; cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=2072434), [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 · Instructor/check 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: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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 in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor stated that the accident flight was flight lesson 1 with the student and her first flight as a flight instructor. The winds were forecast to be variable at 4 knots and the flight taxied to the active runway to complete preflight tasks. After a normal engine run up, the flight was instructed to line-up and wait for a Cessna Caravan that had just departed. After being cleared for takeoff, the flight instructor initiated the takeoff roll and at 60 knots, rotated. When the flight was about 20 to 30 ft above the runway, they experienced a very strong rolling force to the left, which she attempted to correct with a considerable amount of right aileron and right rudder. She then reduced power to abort the takeoff, but the airplane impacted the runway hard and bounced twice, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. She taxied off the runway and the airplane was towed to the maintenance hangar. A pilot who had flown the airplane earlier that day reported the airplane flew “ok” with no discrepancies reported. The flight instructor reported and a post-accident examination corroborated that, there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5412D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5412D-2022-06-04), registration cancelled 2022-06-04, S/N 17272565, built 1979 (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: 17272565 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 232.3 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: ADF Flight School, doing business as ADF Airways - Registered owner: L&W Aircraft Investment LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 2, 2021 - Airport: TMB, Miami Executive Airport, runway 9R, 6,000 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 21; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 12, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 206.3 total, 82.9 in this make and model, 132.4 as pilot in command, 1.3 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 23; injuries: none; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: KTMB - METAR: KTMB 061453Z 16006KT 10SM CLR 32/23 A3013 RMK AO2 SLP202 T03170228 51012 ## 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 20210806006989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210806006989A), Aug 6, 2021: Cessna 172N, Miami, FL, Substantial damage. On August 6, 2021 @ 10:00, a training flight was scheduled at [privacy data omitted]. The purpose of the flight was to provide dual instruction for a private… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 5, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103671. 12.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12654584&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1%20Master%20Form%20(2)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Statement from student (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 293 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12655073&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Statement%20From%20Student_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA record of conversations with attached statement from flight instructor (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12656082&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Record%20of%20Conversations_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - flight control and damage information (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 868 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12895450&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%20-%20Flight%20Control%20%26%20Damage%20Info-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 5.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12654466&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Release%20Form_Redacted-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. --- 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.