# NTSB LAX07CA201: Cessna 172K, N84888, Newcastle, UT, July 2, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 2, 2007, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Newcastle, UT - Coordinates: 37.766666, -113.483329 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7667&lon=-113.4833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 30, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 66170 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07CA201 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66170/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA201 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusty and crosswind condition, and his failure to maintain 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 - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - weather condition - crosswind - weather condition - gusts - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted - terrain condition - berm ## Analysis The airplane collided with a dirt mound during an aborted takeoff from a dry lake bed. The student was familiar with the area and the dry lake, having previously landed there with his certified flight instructor and during solo flight training. During the accident sequence, the student attempted to depart utilizing a soft field technique in a gusty crosswind condition. The student took off in a westerly direction with the wind from about 200 degrees at 10 knots, with 15 knot gusts. A gust of wind was encountered after lifting off the ground, the airplane yawed while in ground effect, and the student elected to discontinue taking off. The aircraft touched down beyond the lake bed surface in a field of sparsely spaced small dirt mounds and bushes. Before the pilot could stop the airplane, it encountered a dirt mound with one landing gear. ## Factual narrative On July 2, 2007, about 1500 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172K, N84888, impacted a dirt berm during an aborted takeoff from a dry lake bed, about 16 nautical miles north of Newcastle, Utah. The airplane was operated by Sphere One Aviation, Inc., Cedar City, Utah. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the student pilot was not injured during the solo instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from Cedar City, about 1415. The student pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he was in the final stages of preparing to take the flight examination to obtain a private pilot certificate. He had a total of 58.1 hours of flight time. The student stated he only needed a few more hours of solo flight time, and then he would meet the minimum solo flying experience requirements. The student further reported that he was aware of the gusty wind condition when he departed Cedar City, his home base airport. He flew to a practice area that he was familiar with, having landed there, both with and without his certified flight instructor. After coming to a stop on the dry lake bed, the student attempted to take off. The lake bed is at least 300 feet wide and 4,000 feet long. According to the student, he intended to make a soft field takeoff in a westerly direction. As he pulled the yoke aft toward his lap to keep the nose up, the airplane lifted off the ground and entered ground effect. At that time, a gust of wind was encountered. The wind was from 200 degrees at 10 knots, with gusts to 15 knots. The wind unexpectedly turned the airplane almost perpendicular to the airplane's flight path. The student stated to the Safety Board investigator that he feared stalling, so he decreased the airplane's pitch attitude and tried to increase air speed. At this time the airplane was over a field of sparsely spaced small dirt mounds and bushes. The pilot further reported he then decided to abort the takeoff. He put the airplane back down onto the ground, and while attempting to dodge the mounds and bushes he applied the brakes. During rollout, the landing gear impacted a dirt mound, the airplane's wings hit the ground, and the emergency locator beacon activated. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N84888](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N84888), registered now, S/N 17258655 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172K - Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17258655 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sphere One Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Departed: Newcastle, UT - Destination: CDC, Cedar City, UT - Airport: NONE, Dry Lake Bed, runway 270, 4,000 × 300 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 21; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; flight hours: 58 total, 39 in this make and model, 58 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 11 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 10 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: CDC, 24 nm away 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.