- Date
- May 6, 2016, 07:15 local (11:15 UTC)
- Place
- Richmond, KY
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N89847Cessna 172
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 14, 2016
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20160506005399A
- Case key
- 93126
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with tree(s).
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The solo student pilot reported that during the takeoff roll the airplane veered to the left. The student pilot further reported that he attempted to correct the veer, but was unsuccessful; subsequently the airplane exited the runway to the left and impacted tree(s), which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. According to the student pilot there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The solo student pilot reported that during the takeoff roll the airplane veered to the left. The student pilot further reported that he attempted to correct the veer, but was unsuccessful; subsequently the airplane exited the runway to the left and impacted tree(s), which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. According to the student pilot there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N89847
- Reported as
- Cessna 172 (P)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17276014
- Built
- 1983
- Airframe hours
- 16,341
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-DJ2, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Eastern Kentucky University
- Registered owner
- Christiansen Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · March 25, 2016
- Departed
- I39 · Richmond, KY
- Destination
- I39 · Richmond, KY
- Airport
- I39 · Madison, runway 36, 5,001 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- None
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 58
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 77 total · 14 in this make and model · 14 in the last 90 days · 14 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 45 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.95 inHg
- Observed at
- KDVK, 21 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 11, 2016, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.1 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N89847 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.