# NTSB GAA18CA299: Cessna 172, N12267, Defuniak Springs, FL, May 19, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 19, 2018, 17:20 local (22:20 UTC) - Place: Defuniak Springs, FL - Coordinates: 30.731111, -86.153892 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7311&lon=-86.1539&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 March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97323 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA299 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97323/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97323 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA299 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the aborted landing. ## 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 172M, 59 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072418), [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 172M, 123 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/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: [Cessna 172M, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 100 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the student pilot, he was performing touch-and-go takeoffs and landings following his first cross-country solo flight. He reported that, during his last landing, the airplane touched down "all the way to the right side of the runway," so he aborted the landing. He shut off the carburetor heat and applied power, and the airplane's nose pitched up and turned left. The airplane impacted the grass safety area on the left side of the runway in a nose-down attitude. The airplane came to rest inverted after striking a drainage culvert and sustained substantial damage to the right-wing lift strut and aileron. The student reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the student pilot, he was performing touch-and-go takeoffs and landings following his first cross-country solo flight. He reported that during his last landing, the airplane touched down "all the way to the right side of the runway" so he aborted the landing. He shut off the carburetor heat and applied power, and the airplane's nose pitched up and turned to the left. The airplane impacted the grass safety area on the left side of the runway in a nose down attitude. The airplane came to rest inverted and sustained substantial damage to the right-wing lift strut and aileron. According to the operator, the pilot reported that during the aborted landing, he increased the power and the airplane veered to the left. The airplane exited the left side of the runway and the main landing gear struck a drainage culvert, and the airplane came to rest inverted. The student pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N12267](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N12267-2021-05-08), registration cancelled 2021-05-08, S/N 17261911, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (M) - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17261911 - Year built: 1973 - Airframe hours: 6123.4 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Onvoi LLC. - Registered owner: Onvoi LLC. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 20, 2018 - Departed: 54J, Defuniak Springs, FL - Destination: 54J, Defuniak Springs, FL - Airport: 54J, Defuniak Springs, runway 27, 4,146 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 28; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 24, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 35 total, 35 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 11 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: KCEW, 19 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 20180519005579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180519005579A), May 19, 2018: Cessna 172M, Defuniak Spring, FL, Substantial damage. Properly endorsed student pilot performing touch and go was right of centerline due to crosswinds, started to correct when the right main wheel touched down… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 4, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97323. 3.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467176&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum - Student Pilot and CFI (item 2, .PDF, 133 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467177&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20-%20Student%20Pilot%20and%20CFI-Master.PDF - Photo (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 118 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467178&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.