# NTSB GAA18CA142: Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna Astore, N194CT, Apopka, FL, February 25, 2018

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: February 25, 2018, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Apopka, FL
- Coordinates: 28.706943, -81.581665 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.7069&lon=-81.5817&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: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 14, 2018
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 96790
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA142
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96790/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96790
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA142

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.

## 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: [Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna ASTORE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=06001AG), [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: [Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna ASTORE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=06001AG), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna ASTORE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=06001AG), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/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: [Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna ASTORE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=06001AG), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna ASTORE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=06001AG), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna ASTORE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=06001AG), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna ASTORE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=06001AG), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The solo student pilot reported that, during takeoff, as he applied full power, the airplane veered to the left. He attempted to recover, but the airplane exited the left side of the runway and came to rest in a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The solo student pilot reported that, during takeoff, as he applied full power, the airplane veered to the left. He attempted to recover, but the airplane exited the left side of the runway and came to rest in a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, and both wings. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N194CT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N194CT), registered now, S/N 039 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: COSTRUZIONI AERONAUTICHE TECNA ASTORE (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna ASTORE](https://openairdocs.org/model/costruzioni-aeronautiche-tecna-astore) (registry code 06001AG) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 914UL](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-914ul) (registry code 55553, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 039
- Year built: 2015
- Airframe hours: 156
- Engines: Rotax 914 Turbo 115 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, December 6, 2017
- Departed: X04, Apopka, FL
- Destination: X04, Apopka, FL
- Airport: X04, Orlando Apopka, runway 15, 3,987 × 60 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Data recorder, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 69; injuries: none; student; medical: sport pilot, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 160 total, 44 in this make and model, 12 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observed at: KORL, 16 nm away

## 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 20180225003099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180225003099A), Feb 25, 2018: Tecnam ASTORE, Apopka, FL, Substantial damage. During the takeoff roll the aircraft veered to the left, off of the left side of the runway striking a embankment.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 4, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96790. 817 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 678 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461700&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 139 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461701&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.

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