- Date
- November 30, 2017, 11:40 local (19:40 UTC)
- Place
- Fullerton, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N417CBCessna 152
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 14, 2018
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20171130022249A
- Case key
- 96446
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 takeoff.
Findings · 2
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 flight instructor reported that, during the student pilot's solo flight in the traffic pattern, after completing a series of takeoffs and landings, the student decided to practice a soft-field takeoff. During the takeoff, the student applied back pressure and full throttle; however, he did not add sufficient right rudder. Subsequently, the airplane veered off the runway to the left, struck the precision approach path indicator lights, and then came to rest. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and engine mount. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The flight instructor reported that, during the student pilot's solo flight in the traffic pattern, after completing a series of takeoffs and landings, the student decided to practice a soft field takeoff. During the takeoff, the student applied back pressure and full throttle; however, he did not add sufficient right rudder. Subsequently, the airplane veered off the runway to the left, struck the Precision Approach Path Indicator lights, and came to rest off the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and engine mount. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N417CB
- Reported as
- Cessna 152 (NO SERIES)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15281010
- Built
- 1981
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235 SERIES, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Departed
- FUL · Fullerton, CA
- Destination
- FUL · Fullerton, CA
- Airport
- FUL · Fullerton Muni, runway 24, 3,121 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Unknown
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
- 24
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 35 total · 35 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.01 inHg
- Observed at
- KFUL
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 1, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.6 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.