- Date
- July 29, 2018, 11:05 local (16:05 UTC)
- Place
- Grand Prairie, TX
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N24144Cessna 172
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 18, 2019
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20180729018339A
- Case key
- 97963
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 the runway centerline during takeoff with a crosswind.
Findings · 4
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 student pilot reported that, while practicing soft-field takeoffs, the airplane lifted off about midfield and drifted left. He and the flight instructor tried to correct, but the airplane struck a runway sign and spun left. The flight instructor reported that, during the soft-field takeoff, as soon as the airplane lifted off the ground, the student pilot lost his composure. He added that, while calling for the flight controls, he began to fight the student for the flight controls and yelled "let go." The airplane struck a taxiway sign, and the airplane spun to the left. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 15 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 210° at 11 knots. The student reported that the wind was from between 220° and 240° at 11 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The airplane departed from runway 17.
Factual narrative
The student pilot reported that, while practicing soft field takeoffs, the airplane lifted off about mid-field and drifted to the left. He and the flight instructor tried to correct, but the airplane struck a runway sign, and spun to the left. The flight instructor reported that, during the soft field takeoff, as soon as the airplane lifted off the ground, the student pilot lost his composure. He added that, while calling for the flight controls, he began to fight the student for the flight controls and yelled "let go". The airplane struck a taxiway sign and the airplane spun to the left. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 15 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 210° at 11 knots. The student pilot reported that the wind was from 220° to 240° at 11 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The airplane departed runway 17.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N24144
- Reported as
- Cessna 172 (S)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 172S10558
- Built
- 2007
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-L2A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Aviator Air Llc
- Registered owner
- Aviator Air Llc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- GPM · Grand Prairie, TX
- Destination
- GPM · Grand Prairie, TX
- Airport
- GPM · Grand Prairie Muni, runway 17, 4,001 × 75 ft, concrete
- Equipment
- ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 36
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Waiver time limited special
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 480 total · 410 in this make and model · 426 as pilot in command · 199 in the last 90 days · 105 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 58
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 58 total · 58 in this make and model · 9 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 93 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.02 inHg
- Observed at
- KGPM
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 24, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.0 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.