- 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.
On this page
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.
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