MIA06CA065

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172 · Leesburg, FL · March 16, 2006

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
March 16, 2006, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
Place
Leesburg, FL
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N737TRCessna 172
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report June 28, 2006
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
20060316003049A
Case key
63356

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 failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll resulting in collision with a taxiway sign.

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 - on ground/waterLanding - roll
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll
Airport facilities,taxiway sign(s)

Analysis

The student pilot stated that he performed a normal landing. After all three wheels were down; the airplane began to veer toward the left side of the runway. He tried applying right rudder, but could not control the airplane in time before it hit a taxiway sign on the left side of the runway. The airplane then went across the runway and stopped on the grass. He secured the airplane before exiting. The flight instructor who endorsed the solo flight stated that the student pilot was not authorized to land at the accident airport. The operator stated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems prior to the accident.

Factual narrative

On March 16, 2006, about 1400 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172P, N737TR, registered to and operated by Avion Air Academy, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, impacted with a taxiway sign during landing at the Leesburg Regional Airport, Leesburg, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a visual flight rule flight plan was filed. The student pilot was not injured and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight had originated from the Gainesville Regional Airport, Gainesville, Florida, earlier that day, about 1325

The student pilot stated he performed a normal landing. After all three wheels were down; the airplane began to veer toward the left side of the runway. He tried to applying right rudder but could not control the airplane in time before it hit a taxiway sign on the left side of the runway. The airplane then went across the runway and stopped on the grass. He secured the airplane before exiting.

The flight instructor who endorsed the solo flight stated the student pilot was not authorized to land at the accident airport. The operator stated there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems prior to the accident.

Aircraft

Registration
N737TR
Reported as
Cessna 172
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17269667
Engine
Lycoming 0-320, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Avion Air Academy
Registered owner
Avion Air Academy, LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
Departed
GNV · Gainesville, FL
Destination
LEE · Leesburg, FL
Flight plan
VFR
Airport
LEE · Leesburg Regional Airport, runway 13, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Student pilot
Age
44
Certificate
Student
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3
Flight hours
60 total · 60 in this make and model · 21 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
260° at 7 knots
Visibility
9 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
79 °F, dew point 70 °F
Altimeter
29.79 inHg
Observed at
LEE

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.