# NTSB GAA17CA163: Cessna 172S, N22904, St Petersburg, FL, March 1, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 1, 2017, 11:19 local (16:19 UTC) - Place: St Petersburg, FL - Coordinates: 27.764999, -82.626945 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.7650&lon=-82.6269&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 22, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94797 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA163 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94797/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94797 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA163 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s overcompensation of right rudder pedal application during the landing roll, which resulted in a loss of directional control and impact with runway signage and a fence. ## 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 · Student/instructed 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) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); 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) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 118 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that, during a solo flight, he was performing takeoffs and full-stop landings in the traffic pattern. During the landing roll, he configured the flaps to 0 and applied full power. The airplane pulled to the left, and he overcompensated the right rudder pedal application. "In an immediate reaction to reverse this I applied left rudder to quickly and went immediately to far left causing a fishtailing effect." The airplane exited the runway to the left and struck runway signage and a fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, the landing gear attachment points, the horizontal stabilizer, and the elevator. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported that during a solo flight he was performing takeoffs and full stop landings in the traffic pattern. During the landing roll, he configured the flaps to zero and applied full power. The airplane pulled to the left and he overcompensated the right rudder pedal application. "In an immediate reaction to reverse this I applied left rudder to quickly and went immediately to far left causing a fishtailing effect." The airplane exited the runway to the left and struck runway signage and a fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, the landing gear attachment points, the horizontal stabilizer and the elevator. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N22904](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N22904), registered now, S/N 172S9961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S (S) - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S9961 - Year built: 2005 - Airframe hours: 4565.8 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 25, 2017 - Departed: KSPG, St. Petersburg, FL - Destination: KSPG, St. Petersburg, FL - Airport: SPG, Albert Whitted, runway 07, 3,677 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Onboard weather, Stall warning system, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Heads up display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 14 total, 14 in this make and model, 14 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: KSPG ## 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 20170301001159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170301001159A), Mar 1, 2017: Cessna 172S, St. Petersburg, FL, Substantial damage. While performing touch and go's, a student pilot, on his first solo, lost control of the aircraft. The aircraft hit a taxiway sign, then, slid on the grass… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 30, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94797. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455702&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 182 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455703&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%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.