# NTSB MIA01LA095: Cessna 172R, N651MA, Cartersville, GA, March 8, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 8, 2001, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Cartersville, GA - Coordinates: 34.123054, -84.848609 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1231&lon=-84.8486&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 October 17, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 51882 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA01LA095 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51882/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01LA095 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane which resulted in the airplane veering off course and subsequent impact with trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - initial climb - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - aborted takeoff - not performed, pilot in command - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ditch - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The student pilot stated he was on an unsupervised solo flight, and had checked the windsock and "it switched from the north and the went back indicating from 270 degrees." At approximately 1/3 normal takeoff, with full right aileron deflection and right rudder, he experienced adverse yaw to the left. Rather then trying to abort the takeoff he attempted to salvage the takeoff. The airplane temporarily became airborne, he pulled the throttle to idle and attempted to stop… The airplane impacted in a shallow ditch filled with small trees. At the time of the accident the reported winds at the airport were variable at 5 knots. ## Factual narrative On March 8, 2001, about 1615 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172R, N651MA, registered to VPC Air Inc., operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, struck tress during initial climb at the Cartersville Airport, Cartersville, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage, and the student pilot, the sole occupant, reported no injuries. The flight had just departed when the accident occurred. The student pilot stated he was on an unsupervised solo flight, and had checked the windsock and "it switched from the north and then went back indicating from 270 degrees." He "…applied full power. At approximately 1/3 normal takeoff [distance], with full right aileron deflection and right rudder, I experienced adverse yaw to the left. Rather then trying to abort at this point, as I should have, I attempted to salvage the takeoff. I temporarily became airborne… I had to stop the aircraft, I pulled the throttle (idle) and attempted to stop… I ended up in a shallow ditch filled with small trees." At the time of the accident the reported winds at the airport were variable at 5 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N651MA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N651MA), registered now, S/N 17280897, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172R - Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172-80897 - Airframe hours: 348 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Vpc Air Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 1, 2001, 10 hours before - Departed: VPC, CARTERSVILLE, GA - Airport: VPC, Cartersville, runway 19, 5,760 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 47 total, 47 in this make and model, 12 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: VPC ## 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 20010308003369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010308003369A), Mar 8, 2001: Cessna 172R, Bartow, FL, No damage. (-23) Student pilot lost directional control of airplane, while taking off on runway 19, at Bartow county airport, in cartersville, GA. Airplane departed the… 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.