# NTSB LAX05CA148: Cessna 172N, N737WF, Palo Alto, CA, April 27, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 26, 2005, 18:45 local (Apr 27, 2005, 01:45 UTC) - Place: Palo Alto, CA - Coordinates: 37.456665, -122.108886 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4567&lon=-122.1089&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 61401 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX05CA148 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61401/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05CA148 ## Probable cause The student's failure to maintain directional control and the CFI's failure to adequately supervise the flight. ## 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) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane veered off the runway and impacted a taxiway following a loss of control during takeoff. The student reported that while on the takeoff roll the airplane was on the centerline of the runway. The airplane started to drift to the right of the centerline. The student said he either released some of the pressure on the right rudder pedal and/or applied some left pedal to correct the drift of the airplane. The certified flight instructor (CFI) reported that during the takeoff roll, with the student at the controls, it "sharply and abruptly" yawed to the left and then "very abruptly rotated." The CFI attempted to regain control of the airplane; however, the airplane impacted "sideways on the parallel taxiway." The student and the CFI both stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. ## Factual narrative On April 26, 2005, about 1845 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N737WF, impacted the runway following a loss of control during takeoff at Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County (PAO), Palo Alto, California. West Valley Flying Club was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The certified flight instructor (CFI), the student pilot undergoing instruction, and one passenger were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local instructional flight departed PAO, about 1845. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The approximate global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of the primary wreckage were 37 degrees 27.40 minutes north latitude and 122 degrees 06.53 minutes west longitude. The National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) interviewed the CFI, and the student pilot. The student reported that while on the takeoff roll the airplane was on the centerline of the runway. The airplane started to drift to the right of the centerline. The student either released some of the pressure on the right rudder pedal and or applied some left pedal to correct the drift of the airplane. He thought the airplane was at the "point of takeoff." About that time, the CFI advised the student he was taking control of the airplane. The student relinquished the controls to the CFI. The CFI reported that during the takeoff roll, with the student at the controls, it "sharply and abruptly" yawed to the left and "very abruptly rotated." The CFI attempted to regain control of the airplane; however, the airplane impacted "sideways on the parallel taxiway." The student and the CFI both stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. The official weather observation station is at PAO, located at accident site. The elevation of the weather observation station was 4 feet mean sea level (msl). Reported weather at 1847, was winds from 330 degrees at 6 knots; visibility 30 miles; clouds few at 4,000 msl; sky condition overcast at 20,000 feet; temperature 66 degrees Fahrenheit; dew point 48 degrees Fahrenheit; and altimeter 29.91 inHg. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N737WF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N737WF-2008-01-14), registration cancelled 2008-01-14, S/N 17269726, built 1977 (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: 17269726 - Engines: Lycoming 0-320-H2AD reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Graham B. Bird - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PAO, PALO ALTO, CA - Airport: PAO, Palo Alto Arpt Of Santa Clara, runway 31, 2,443 × 70 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 32; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; flight hours: 1,496 total, 608 in this make and model, 116 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 34; student; flight hours: 4 total, 4 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg ## 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 20050426007469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050426007469A), Apr 26, 2005: Cessna 172N, Palo Alto, CA, Destroyed. (-23) Student pilot over-rotated during the takeoff and the certified flight instructor failed to initiate corrective action. The student also applied left… 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.