# NTSB ERA22LA228: Cessna 172M, N20459, Lancaster, NY, May 14, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 14, 2022, 14:10 local (18:10 UTC) - Place: Lancaster, NY - Coordinates: 42.922056, -78.611972 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9221&lon=-78.6120&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): 105084 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA228 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105084/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105084 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA228 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s excessive pitch during takeoff resulted in a loss of control and impact with terrain. Contributing was the student’s failure to relinquish the controls when ordered by the instructor. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: unnecessary action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041045): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041045/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041045/cases.md) - [Mental/emotional state: anxiety/panic](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022515): Personnel issues › Psychological · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022515/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022515/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/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 172M, 59 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072418), [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 in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 47 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that after she demonstrated a soft-field takeoff, she directed the student to conduct one. During the takeoff roll, the student maintained excessive back pressure on the control yoke and was told by the instructor to reduce the back pressure. Once the airplane lifted off the runway it started to veer to the left; the instructor again informed the student to reduce back pressure to decrease the pitch, but the student maintained a grip on the controls and held excessive right rudder. The instructor stated, “I have the controls,” but the student “locked up and blocked” them and failed to relinquish the controls. The instructor was able to reduce the pitch, but directional control was lost, and the left wing contacted the runway surface, and the airplane departed the runway and flipped over, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and airframe. The instructor stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N20459](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N20459-2023-02-04), registration cancelled 2023-02-04, S/N 17261305, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17261305 - Year built: 1973 - Airframe hours: 2894 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Little Bird Airways LLC - Registered owner: Little Bird Airways LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 30, 2021, 73 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: BQR, Buffalo-Lancaster Regional Airport, runway 09/27, 3,199 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 26; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 13, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 360.5 total, 300 in this make and model, 309.4 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 16.2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 16; injuries: none; student; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 13.9 total, 13.9 in this make and model, 0 as pilot in command, 3.8 in the last 90 days, 3.8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: BUF, 6 nm away - METAR: KBUF 141754Z VRB03KT 10SM BKN060 BKN070 BKN250 27/14 A2994 RMK AO2 SLP135 T02670144 10272 20200 56026 $ ## 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 20220514006169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220514006169A), May 14, 2022: Cessna 172M, Lancaster, NY, Substantial damage. Student pilot (minor without a student pilot cert, just started flying) was attempting a soft field takeoff and rotated at stall speed. The aircraft pitched up… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 8, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105084. 7.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13929811&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%27s%206120%20Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation_operator (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 94 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13932025&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_Operator_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspectors statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 258 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13929824&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N20459%20Inspector%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Photo array_accident site and damage (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13932716&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Site%20and%20Damage%20Photographs-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.