# NTSB GAA19CA151: Cessna 172, N83AF, Morristown, NJ, February 21, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 21, 2019, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Morristown, NJ - Coordinates: 40.7975, -74.415832 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7975&lon=-74.4158&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99025 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA151 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99025/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99025 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA151 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper rudder input and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action during takeoff, which resulted in a loss of directional control, a runway excursion, and the landing gear collapsing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [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 172R, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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 172R, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that, during takeoff with the student pilot on the flight controls, the airplane veered slightly left. The instructor assisted by applying rudder input, which corrected the veer, but then the airplane abruptly veered left. The instructor assumed control of the airplane, pulled the power, and applied brakes and rudder. The airplane exited the runway to the left into grass, and the nose landing gear collapsed. The student reported that he recalled the instructor telling him about the airplane's left turning tendencies and having to correct with the opposite (right) rudder. He added that he may have corrected with the wrong rudder during the takeoff. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount and fuselage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about 10 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 290° at 7 knots. The airplane was departing from runway 31. The Federal Aviation Administration's Airplane Flying Handbook, FAA-H-8083-3B, "Normal Takeoff," stated, in part: As the airplane gains speed, the elevator control tends to assume a neutral position if the airplane is correctly trimmed. At the same time, the rudder pedals are used to keep the nose of the airplane pointed down the runway and parallel to the centerline. The effects of engine torque and P-factor at the initial speeds tend to pull the nose to the left (Torque and P-Factor will be discussed in greater detail in later chapter). The pilot must use whatever rudder pressure is needed to correct for these effects or winds. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor reported that, during takeoff with the student pilot on the flight controls, the airplane veered slightly to the left, she assisted with rudder input and they corrected the veer, but then the airplane veered left abruptly. The instructor assumed control of the airplane, pulled the power, and applied brakes and rudder. But, the airplane exited the runway to the left into the grass, and the nose landing gear collapsed. The student reported that, upon reflection, he recalled the instructor telling him about the left turning tendencies and having to correct with the opposite (right) rudder. He reported that he may have corrected with the wrong rudder during the takeoff. The airplane sustained substantial damaged to the engine mount and fuselage. 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 10 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 290° at 7 knots. The airplane was departing runway 31. The Federal Aviation Administration's Airplane Flying Handbook, FAA-H-8083-3B, provides information and guidance in a section titled "Normal Takeoff" which stated in part: As the airplane gains speed, the elevator control tends to assume a neutral position if the airplane is correctly trimmed. At the same time, the rudder pedals are used to keep the nose of the airplane pointed down the runway and parallel to the centerline. The effects of engine torque and P-factor at the initial speeds tend to pull the nose to the left (Torque and P-Factor will be discussed in greater detail in later chapter). The pilot must use whatever rudder pressure is needed to correct for these effects or winds. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N83AF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N83AF), registered now, S/N 17281052, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 (R) - Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17281052 - Year built: 2001 - Airframe hours: 15896.9 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: American Flyers, doing business as 07960 - Registered owner: Ameriflyers Of Texas Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 13, 2019 - Departed: MMU, Morristown, NJ - Destination: MMU, Morristown, NJ - Airport: MMU, Morristown Muni, runway 31, 3,997 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 29; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 368 total, 310 in this make and model, 234 as pilot in command, 86 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 18; injuries: none; student; seat: left; flight hours: 6 total, 6 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KMMU ## 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 20190221011079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190221011079A), Feb 21, 2019: Cessna 172R, Morristown, NJ, Substantial damage. During take off roll the aircraft pulled hard to the left and stopped in grass between two runways. Student pilot seat was not adjusted correctly for flight as… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 27, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99025. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 513 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471419&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (Flight Instructor) (item 2, .PDF, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471420&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Flight%20Instructor)-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (Student Pilot) (item 3, .PDF, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471421&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Student%20Pilot)-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 4, .PDF, 2 photos, 307 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471422&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.