# NTSB GAA20CA055: Cessna 172, N80931, Augusta, GA, October 28, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 28, 2019, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Augusta, GA - Coordinates: 33.466667, -82.039443 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4667&lon=-82.0394&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 16, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100530 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA20CA055 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100530/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100530 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA055 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to attain sufficient airspeed to climb out of ground effect, which resulted in a descent, loss of directional control, runway excursion, and impact with a fence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/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: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: 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) ## Analysis The solo student pilot reported that he configured the airplane for takeoff and that, during the takeoff roll, the airplane reached 55 knots and ascended about 5 ft above ground level. The airplane descended back onto the runway and veered right. He applied left rudder and pulled the throttle to idle as the airplane exited the right side of the runway. He leveled the wings and locked the brakes, and the airplane impacted a fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported that, he configured the airplane for takeoff, and during the takeoff roll, the airplane reached 55 knots, and ascended about 5ft above the runway. The airplane descended back to the runway and veered to the right. He applied left rudder, and he pulled the throttle to idle as the airplane exited the right side of the runway. He leveled the wings, locked the brakes and the airplane impacted a fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. According to the METAR at the accident airport, the weather about the time of the accident was reported as wind light and variable wind conditions, temperature 82°F, and the airport elevation was 422ft. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N80931](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N80931), registered now, S/N 17266806, built 1976 (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: 17266806 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 4206.1 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 160 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Augusta Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Augusta Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 4, 2019 - Departed: DNL, Augusta, GA - Destination: DNL, Augusta, GA - Airport: DNL, Daniel Field, runway 23, 4,002 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 53; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 33.7 total, 33.7 in this make and model, 6 as pilot in command, 9.8 in the last 90 days, 6.6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: DNL ## 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 20191028022189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191028022189A), Oct 28, 2019: Cessna 172M, Augusta, GA, Substantial damage. On October 28, 2019 the pilot of N80931 was attempting to depart runway 23 at Daniel Field Augusta Georgia, the pilot statement states (in brief) ?the aircraft… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 31, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100530. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480426&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 146 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480427&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.