# NTSB ERA21LA331: Cessna 172R, N62LU, Louisville, KY, August 18, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 18, 2021, 07:57 local (11:57 UTC) - Place: Louisville, KY - Coordinates: 38.227984, -85.663749 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2280&lon=-85.6637&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: 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): 103726 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA331 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103726/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA331 ## Probable cause A loss of directional on takeoff for reasons that could not be determined. ## 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 · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 75 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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 172R, 75 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072401), [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 172R, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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 172R, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor and student were attempting to takeoff with the student as pilot flying. The student said the airplane was pulling left and the flight instructor told him to counteract it with right rudder, but it did not seem to help. The student then applied full right rudder and he said it felt like something released and the steering overcorrected to the right. The flight instructor immediately took control, but the airplane subsequently impacted a sign, which resulted in substantial damage to the lower fuselage and empennage. A post-accident examination of the airplane’s flight controls revealed no mechanical anomalies. The instructor reported that the airplane had no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N62LU](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N62LU), registered now, S/N 17280590, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172R - Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17280590 - Year built: 1998 - Airframe hours: 7326.7 - Engines: LYCOMING I0360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Louisville Aircraft Leasing LLC - Registered owner: Louisville Aircraft Leasing LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 14, 2021 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: LOU, Bowman Fld, runway 06/24, 4,358 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 23; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 23, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 285 total, 53 in this make and model, 213 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 50; injuries: none; flight engineer; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 18 total, 18 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: LOU - METAR: 181153Z 00000KT 9SM CLR 21/20 A3009 ## 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 20210818014399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210818014399A), Aug 18, 2021: Cessna 172R, Louisville, KY, Substantial damage. On 8/18/2021, at approximately 1157Z/ 0757 local, N62LU, a Cessna 172, was in the take-off roll From runway 24 at Bowman Field (klou), Louisville, Kentucky… 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.