# NTSB LAX00LA096: Cessna 172N, N739GQ, Bermuda Dunes, CA, February 7, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 7, 2000, 11:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Bermuda Dunes, CA - Coordinates: 33.710693, -116.230506 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7107&lon=-116.2305&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48633 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA096 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48633/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA096 ## Probable cause Failure of the student pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted - terrain condition - high vegetation ## Analysis The student pilot was practicing touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. No discrepancies were noted with the first two touch-and go's. On the third landing he had already engaged carburetor heat, applied full throttle, and raised the flaps when he noted that he was right of centerline. He indicated that he tried to steer the airplane like a car with the control yoke back to centerline instead of using the rudder pedals. The airplane departed the runway and the right wing struck bushes, spun around, and came to a stop. The pilot reported that he had 30 hours total time in all aircraft. He noted no discrepancies with the airframe or engine. ## Factual narrative On February 7, 2000, at 1130 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172N, N739GQ, veered off the runway during the takeoff portion of a touch-and-go, and impacted trees at the Bermuda Dunes, California, airport. The airplane, operated by Bermuda Dunes Air Services as an instructional flight under 14 CFR Part 91, sustained substantial damage. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed for the solo instructional flight and no flight plan was filed. The flight had originated at 1100, and was scheduled to terminate at the same airport. In the student pilot's written report to the Safety Board he stated that he had been practicing touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. No discrepancies were noted with the first two touch-and-go's. On the third touch-and-go landing, he raised the flaps, applied full throttle, and engaged the carburetor heat. He noted that he was right of centerline and tried to steer the airplane back onto the runway. The right wing struck a tree limb, turned the airplane 90 degrees, the left wing stuck the ground, and came to a stop. The pilot further indicated that he has a total time of 30 hours in all aircraft, and that there were no discrepancies with the airframe or powerplant. In an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the student pilot reported that as the airplane continued to the right he attempted to steer the airplane like he was driving a car by using the control wheel instead of the rudder pedals. When he realized his mistake, it was too late to correct it because the airplane had already impacted bushes, spun around, and had come to a stop. He shut the engine down and exited on the right side because the left side door had been jammed shut when the left wing impacted the ground. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N739GQ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N739GQ), registered now, S/N 17270535, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17270535 - Airframe hours: 3631 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Bermuda Dunes Air Services - Registered owner: Bratzel Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 21, 1999, 15 hours before - Departed: UDD - Airport: UDD, Bermuda Dunes, runway 28, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 30 total, 30 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PSP, 15 nm away ## 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 20000207000709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000207000709A), Feb 7, 2000: Cessna 172N, Bermuda Dunes, CA, Substantial damage. (.19) On February 7, 2000, at 1130 hours pacific standard time, a Cessna 172N, N739GQ, veered off the runway during the takeoff portion of a touch-and-go, and… 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.