- Date
- May 30, 2018, 16:55 local (23:55 UTC)
- Place
- Payson, AZ
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N780JACessna 172
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 5, 2018
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20180530024969A
- Case key
- 97367
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 pilot’s failure to maintain yaw control during a short-field takeoff in high-density altitude conditions.
Findings · 3
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 pilot reported that, during a short-field takeoff, around 100 ft above the ground, he saw the primary flight display (PFD) airspeed indicator showing 0. He added that the engine appeared to be functioning normally, but he decided to level the airplane and attempt to land on the remaining runway. The airplane then began to turn left, and he added right rudder. Subsequently, the airplane touched down on an adjacent taxiway left of the runway, and the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer. Postaccident examination videos were provided by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector. The videos showed both the PFD and backup airspeed indicators moving in sync with air applied to the pitot tube. The automated weather observation system at the airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 190° at 10 knots, gusting to 18 knots, and the calculated density altitude was 7,883 ft. The pilot was departing from runway 24.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that, during a short field takeoff, around 100 ft above ground, he saw the primary flight display (PFD) airspeed indicator show 0. He added, the engine appeared to be functioning normal, but he decided to level the airplane and attempt to land on the remaining runway. The airplane then began to turn left and he added right rudder. Subsequently, the airplane touched down on an adjacent taxiway left of the runway and the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer. Postaccident examination videos were provided by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector. The videos showed both the PFD and backup airspeed indicators moving in sync with air applied to the pitot tube. The automated weather observation system at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 190° at 10 knots, gusting to 18 knots, and the calculated density altitude was 7883 ft. The pilot was departing on runway 24.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N780JA
- Reported as
- Cessna 172
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 172S10476
- Built
- 2007
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-L2A, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- PRC · Prescott, AZ
- Destination
- PAN · Payson, AZ
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- PAN · Payson, runway 24, 5,504 × 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
- Pilot
- Age
- 20
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- December 10, 2017
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 95.8 total · 95.8 in this make and model · 28 as pilot in command · 21 in the last 90 days · 2.5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 10 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 14 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.95 inHg
- Observed at
- KPAN
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 6, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.5 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.