LAX06CA252

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172M · San Andreas, CA · August 3, 2006

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
August 3, 2006, 14:15 local (21:15 UTC)
Place
San Andreas, CA
Injuries
3 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N12626Cessna 172M
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report November 29, 2006
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
Case key
64280

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

the student pilot's improper soft-field takeoff technique and failure to obtain and maintain an adequate airspeed, which resulted in a stall mush. The certificated flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the maneuver was also causal.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - in flightTakeoff - initial climb
Soft field takeoff/procedure - improperDual studentCause
Airspeed - not obtained/maintainedDual studentCause
Stall/mush - encounteredDual studentCause
Supervision - inadequatePilot in command(cfi)Cause
Remedial action - delayedPilot in command(cfi)Cause
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled
Terrain condition - ditch

Analysis

The airplane stalled and impacted terrain during a soft-field takeoff. The student pilot was practicing a soft-field takeoff in preparation of his private pilot check ride. The student conducted the soft-field takeoff with the airplane established in a nose high pitch attitude. The student failed to reduce the wing's angle of attack and the airplane very quickly rose above ground effect. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) said that the student was a little slow in lowering the nose of the airplane to gain airspeed, but he (the CFI) delayed taking corrective action since the student's check ride was coming up and he wanted to see the student take action on his own. The student informed the CFI that it felt as though the right wing wanted to drop. The CFI took control of the airplane, lowered the nose and applied left aileron, but it was too late. The left wing dropped and the airplane descended to ground impact.

Factual narrative

On August 3, 2006, at 1415 Pacific daylight time a Cessna 172M, N12626, impacted terrain and a ditch during takeoff from runway 13 at the Calaveras County Airport (CPU) near San Andreas, California. The certificated flight instructor (CFI), the dual student, and a passenger were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to a company doing business as (d.b.a.) TDL Aero Enterprises, Merced, California. The instructional flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed for the local training flight, which originated about 15 minutes prior to the accident.

According to the CFI, he was providing instruction for the student pilot who was preparing for his private pilot check ride. They flew from Merced and landed at Calaveras County and conducted a couple of takeoffs and landings. They were in the process of practicing a soft-field takeoff when the accident occurred. The CFI's account of the sequence revealed that the student conducted the soft-field takeoff with the airplane established in a nose high pitch attitude. The CFI said that the airplane very quickly rose above ground effect and the student was a little slow in lowering the nose of the airplane to gain airspeed. The instructor said he delayed taking corrective action since the student's check ride was coming up and he wanted to see the student take action on his own. The flight continued and the student informed the CFI that it felt as though the right wing wanted to drop. The CFI took control of the airplane, lowered the nose and applied left aileron, but it was too late. The left wing dropped and the airplane descended to ground impact.

Aircraft

Registration
N12626
Reported as
Cessna 172M
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17262124
Airframe hours
9,293.5
Engine
Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · June 1, 2006 · 78 hours before
Departed
CPU · San Andreas, CA
Destination
San Andreas, CA
Airport
CPU · Calaveras County, runway 13, 3,603 × 60 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Flight instructor
Age
66
Injuries
None
Certificates
Airline transport, Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
March 1, 2006
Seat
Right
Flight hours
5,478 total · 1,466 in this make and model · 5,145 as pilot in command · 80 in the last 90 days · 33 in the last 30 days
Role
Student pilot
Age
17
Injuries
None
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 1, With waivers/limitations
Seat
Left
Flight hours
45 total · 45 in this make and model · 19 as pilot in command · 38 in the last 90 days · 33 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
330° at 5 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
90 °F, dew point 48 °F
Altimeter
29.80 inHg
Observed at
SCK, 31 nm away