# NTSB GAA19CA119: Cessna 172, N17SJ, Sugar Land, TX, December 27, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 27, 2018, 13:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Sugar Land, TX - Coordinates: 29.622777, -95.656669 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6228&lon=-95.6567&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 November 6, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98924 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA119 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98924/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98924 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA119 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a sign. ## 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 172S, 66 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072439), [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 172S, 206 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/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 172S, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072439), [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: [Cessna 172S, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 118 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot reported that, while taking off for a stop-and-go landing, he applied full power, and the airplane drifted left. He corrected with right rudder, but the airplane continued left. He reduced power to idle to abort the takeoff, but the airplane "continued out of control to the left." He applied brakes and opposite rudder, but the airplane exited the runway to the left and struck an airport sign, the left main landing gear separated, and the airplane came to rest about 200 ft past the sign. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing lift strut. The student 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 the takeoff of a stop and go landing, he applied full power and the airplane drifted left. He corrected with right rudder, but the airplane continued left. He reduced power to idle to abort the takeoff, but the airplane "continued out of control to the left." He applied brakes and opposite rudder, but the airplane exited the runway to the left, struck an airport sign, the left main landing gear separated, and the airplane came to rest about 200 ft past the sign. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing lift strut. The student 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 7 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 310° at 6 knots. The student landed the airplane on runway 35. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N17SJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N17SJ), registered now, S/N 172S8344, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 (S) - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S8344 - Year built: 1999 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360SER reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Anson Air Llc - Registered owner: Anson Air Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Departed: SGR, Sugar Land, TX - Destination: SGR, Sugar Land, TX - Airport: SGR, Sugar Land Rgnl, runway 35, 8,000 × 100 ft, concrete - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 40; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 98 total, 98 in this make and model, 17.2 as pilot in command, 13.3 in the last 90 days, 9.1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.75 inHg - Observed at: KSGR ## 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 20181227021919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181227021919A), Dec 27, 2018: Cessna 172S, Sugar Land, TX, Substantial damage. On December 27, 2018 student pilot [privacy data omitted] was doing pattern work, on his fifth landing which was a full stop and go, he set the aircraft for a… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 14, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98924. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471048&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 317 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471049&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-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.