# NTSB ERA23LA085: Cessna 172, N783SF, Knoxville, TN, December 12, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 12, 2022, 13:50, time zone not recorded - Place: Knoxville, TN - Coordinates: 35.962503, -83.8718 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9625&lon=-83.8718&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) start-up: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 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): 106444 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA085 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106444/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106444 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA085 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of directional control during engine start. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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 172S, 66 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 206 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072439), [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. - [Standing-engine(s) start-up: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that upon engine startup for a local solo flight the airplane “almost immediately pivoted to the left.” The airplane impacted a two support beams of the shade hangar it was parked under, substantially damaging the left wing. The pilot reported that the parking brake was set when the engine was started and that his feet were on the brakes. A witness reported that the airplane “started up with what sounded like an excessively high RPM.” Postaccident inspection of the throttle, toe brake, and parking brake system by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector found no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N783SF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N783SF), registered now, S/N 172S8980, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (SP) - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S8980 - Year built: 2001 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Knoxville Flight Training Academy - Registered owner: Bremfour Aviation Group Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: DKX, Knoxville Downtown Island - Equipment: Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 80 total, 80 in this make and model, 15 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,400 ft overcast - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.16 inHg - Observed at: DKX - METAR: METAR KDKX 121855Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM OVC024 10/05 A3016 RMK A01 ## 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 20221212019429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221212019429A), Dec 12, 2022: Cessna 172S, Knoxville, TN, Substantial damage. The student pilot rented the aircraft from the flight school he was enrolled with for solo training. Student pilot stated that he performed the preflight of… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 14, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106444. 5.2 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=14923403&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1%20JJ%20FINALSIGNED%206120%2012242022_V1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 292 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14904097&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2%20Memorandum%20For%20Record%20PIC%20Interview%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement from flight school (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14903645&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2%20Pilot%20statement%20to%20flight%20school-Rel.pdf - Witness statement to FAA (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14904315&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=3%20Cessna%20N783SF%20Witness%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� FAA examination (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 213 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14904208&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=4%20Memorandum%20For%20Record%20FAA%20Inspector-Rel.pdf - Photographs (item 6, PDF, 5 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14904107&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=5%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. --- 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.