# NTSB GAA16CA498: Airtime Cygnet, N145AT, Venice, FL, September 16, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 16, 2016, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Venice, FL - Coordinates: 27.071111, -82.440834 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.0711&lon=-82.4408&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 February 6, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94056 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA498 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94056/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94056 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA498 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in a runway excursion. ## 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: [Airtime CYGNET, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=06001AR), [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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Airtime CYGNET, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=06001AR), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Airtime CYGNET, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=06001AR), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/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: [Airtime CYGNET, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=06001AR), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Airtime CYGNET, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=06001AR), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Airtime CYGNET, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=06001AR), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Airtime CYGNET, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=06001AR), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor in the amphibious float-equipped, weight-shift aircraft reported that the accident flight was the third flight with the student pilot, and the student pilot's first flight in the front seat. He further reported that during the takeoff roll they "began to [lose] the center line to the left and then to the right." He reported that in this particular aircraft, to turn to the right you push the left pedal and to turn to the left you push the right pedal. He instructed the student pilot to release the throttle. He then attempted to "take the controls back and keep the [aircraft] on the runway", but was unsuccessful. The aircraft veered off the runway to the right, the right float impacted grass, and the aircraft spun 180 degrees. The student pilot reported that he told the flight instructor that he would "follow along with him on the controls during the takeoff to feel how he was moving them". He further reported that when the aircraft veered off the runway to the right, he "took [his] hands off the controls" to allow the flight instructor to correct for the veer. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the right lift strut. The flight instructor reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor in the amphibious float-equipped, weight-shift aircraft reported that the accident flight was the third flight with the student pilot, and the student pilot's first flight in the front seat. He further reported that during the takeoff roll they "began to [lose] the center line to the left and then to the right." He reported that in this particular aircraft, to turn to the right you push the left pedal and to turn to the left you push the right pedal. He instructed the student pilot to release the throttle. He then attempted to "take the controls back and keep the [aircraft] on the runway", but was unsuccessful. The aircraft veered off the runway to the right, the right float impacted grass, and the aircraft spun 180 degrees. The student pilot reported that he told the flight instructor that he would "follow along with him on the controls during the takeoff to feel how he was moving them". He further reported that the aircraft veered off the runway to the right, he "took [his] hands off the controls" to allow the flight instructor to correct for the veer. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the right lift strut. The flight instructor reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N145AT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N145AT), registered now, S/N 00101 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIRTIME AIRCRAFT INC CYGNET (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Airtime CYGNET](https://openairdocs.org/model/airtime-cygnet) (registry code 06001AR) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 0101 - Year built: 2015 - Airframe hours: 200 - Engines: Rotax 912 ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 13, 2016 - Departed: VNC, Venice, FL - Destination: VNC, Venice, FL - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: VNC, Venice Muni, runway 23, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 25; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 2,000 total, 2.5 in this make and model - Flight instructor; age 48; injuries: none; sport pilot, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: sport pilot, unknown; last flight review November 21, 2015; seat: rear; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 402 total, 356 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: KVNC ## 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 20160916015669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160916015669A), Sep 16, 2016: Airtime Aircraft Inc CYGNET, Venice, FL, Substantial damage. Aircraft was departing runway 23 with student and CFI. Student froze on the controls and the CFI was unable to regain control of the aircraft. The aircraft… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 3, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94056. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 660 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447935&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Student Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447936&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 527 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447937&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.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.