# NTSB MIA03LA096: Cessna 172S, N52903, Melbourne, FL, April 12, 2003

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 12, 2003, 09:20 local (13:20 UTC)
- Place: Melbourne, FL
- Coordinates: 28.102777, -80.645278
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.1028&lon=-80.6453&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 30, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FIT Aviation, LLC, FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 56825
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA03LA096
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56825/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03LA096

## Probable cause

The student pilot's improper throttle setting during the braking test, resulting in a collision with a parked airplane.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Collision between aircraft (other than midair), taxi
  - throttle/power control - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The student pilot stated that after receiving his taxi clearance, he released the parking brake and the airplane began to roll forward.  He applied the airplane's brakes to perform a brake check but the brakes were ineffective.  The airplane rolled forward and collided with a parked airplane.  According to several witnesses, they heard the airplane operating at a high power setting, before impacting a parked airplane at a high rate of speed.  The airplane sustained structural damage aft of the firewall, damage to the firewall, and the engine mount.  Examination of the brake system by the operator with FAA oversight revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction.

## Factual narrative

On April 12, 2003, about 0920 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172S, N52903, registered to JMAX, LLC, and operated by FIT, LLC, collided with a parked airplane while taxiing at the Melbourne Regional Airport, Melbourne, Florida.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight.  The airplane was substantially damaged and the student reported no injuries.  The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The student pilot stated that after receiving his taxi clearance, he released the parking brake and the airplane began to roll forward.  He applied the airplane's brakes to perform a brake check but the brakes were ineffective.  The airplane rolled forward and collided with a parked airplane.

According to several witnesses, they heard the engine of the accident airplane operating at a high power setting before impacting the parked airplane, and also saw the airplane impact the parked airplane with a high rate of speed.

Examination of the brake system by the operator with FAA oversight revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N52903](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N52903-2009-10-19), registration cancelled 2009-10-19, S/N 172S9231, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172S
- Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172S9231
- Airframe hours: 96
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: FIT Aviation, LLC
- Registered owner: Massimo Bosso
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 14, 2003, 96 hours before
- Departed: KMLB, Melbourne, FL
- Destination: KOBE, Okeechobee, FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: KMLB, Melbourne International Arpt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 60; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 29 total, 29 in this make and model, 13 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: KMLB

## 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 20030412015169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030412015169A), Apr 12, 2003: Cessna 172S, Melbourne, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) Student pilot attempted to taxi from parking spot for solo flight. Witnesses stated that it sounded like the student pilot was near full power to taxi.…

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.

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