# NTSB LAX03LA151: Cessna 172S, N585TM, Camarillo, CA, May 15, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 15, 2003, 15:51 local (22:51 UTC) - Place: Camarillo, CA - Coordinates: 34.21389, -119.094444 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2139&lon=-119.0944&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 57013 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX03LA151 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57013/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA151 ## Probable cause the student pilot's failure to maintain directional control, resulting in a collision with terrain. The flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight and delayed remedial action were also causal. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - directional control - not maintained, dual student (cause) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane collided with terrain while on the takeoff roll. The certified flight instructor (CFI) reported that during the takeoff roll the airplane drifted right of centerline. He advised the student pilot to release pressure from the right rudder pedal. The airplane moved left of the centerline, and the CFI instructed the student to increase right rudder pressure. The airplane continued to the left and the CFI took control of the airplane. He pulled the throttle to the idle position and applied full right rudder pressure in an effort to stay on the runway. The airplane continued off the left side of the runway, and he added full power. The airplane became airborne and, despite full right rudder, continued a left yaw. Unable to gain altitude, the airplane impacted the dirt infield. It came to rest with the nose about 180 degrees from runway heading. The CFI had about 70 hours of flight instruction time, and the student pilot had about 4 hours of dual instruction. The CFI did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector interviewed the CFI. He established that prior to the accident, the student pilot was given an overly comprehensive brief and became overwhelmed during takeoff. After losing control, the CFI waited too late to effectively take remedial action and recover the airplane. ## Factual narrative On May 15, 2003, at 1551 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172S, N585TM, collided with terrain while on takeoff roll at the Camarillo Airport (CMA), Camarillo, California. The airplane was registered to a private individual, and operated by Skyblue Air, Inc., under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local instructional flight was attempting to depart CMA at the time of the accident. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. In a written statement, the CFI reported that during the takeoff roll on runway 26 the airplane drifted right of centerline. He advised the student pilot to release pressure from the right rudder pedal. The airplane moved left of the centerline and the CFI instructed the student to increase right rudder pressure. The airplane continued to the left, and the CFI took control of the airplane. He pulled the throttle to the idle position and applied full right rudder pressure in an effort to stay on the runway. The airplane continued off the left side of the runway, and he added full power. The airplane became airborne and, despite full right rudder, continued a left yaw. Unable to gain altitude, the airplane impacted the dirt infield. It came to rest with the nose about 180 degrees from runway heading. The CFI had about 70 hours of flight instruction time, and the student pilot had about 4 hours of dual instruction. The CFI did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. After the accident, the Federal Aviation Administration inspector interviewed the CFI. He thought that the CFI gave the student pilot an overly comprehensive brief before the flight. He established that prior to the accident, the student pilot was given control input information for all facets of flight and was overwhelmed during takeoff. After losing control, the CFI waited to take remedial action too late and could not recover the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N585TM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N585TM-2004-10-20), registration cancelled 2004-10-20, S/N 172S8515, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172S - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0-360-B1E](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0-360-b1e) (registry code 41559, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S8515 - Airframe hours: 1261 - Engines: Lycoming I0-360-B1E 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sky Blue Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 5, 2003, 68 hours before - Departed: KCMA, Camarillo, CA - Airport: CMA, Camarillo Airport, runway 26, 6,010 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 30; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review June 1, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 440 total, 85 in this make and model, 350 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 50; injuries: none; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 11 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: CMA ## 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 20030515009159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030515009159A), May 15, 2003: Cessna 172S, Camarillo, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft lost directional control during takeoff. CFI failed to apply adequate control inputs to prevent runway excursion. 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.