MIA07CA099

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172K · Emporia, VA · May 14, 2007

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
May 14, 2007, 16:45 local (20:45 UTC)
Place
Emporia, VA
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N79941Cessna 172K
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report July 25, 2007
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA Flight Standards District Office
FAA report
20070514007909A
Case key
65802

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 failure of the student pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll resulting in the on-ground collision with a ditch.

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/waterTakeoff - roll/run
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterTakeoff - roll/run
Terrain condition - ditch

Analysis

The pilot lost control of the airplane during the takeoff roll from runway 33. The wind at the time was from 140 degrees at 4 knots. The airplane departed the left side of the runway, and traveled into a ditch. Postaccident examination of the left brake, and wheel assembly revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction.

Factual narrative

The pilot stated that during the takeoff roll he had right rudder input applied to counter the left turning tendency and upon achieving 45 miles-per-hour, the airplane "...violently pulled hard left and exited the runway onto the grass field then proceeded to come to rest in a ditch adjacent to the runway."

Examination of the runway by the FAA inspector-in-charge revealed tire marks associated with "...tire skidding..." from both main landing gear tires beginning approximately 700 feet down the runway. The mark from the left main landing gear tire showed evidence of "'...chirping or skipping' due to heavy braking (locked up)..." for approximately 75 feet before becoming a continuous black mark in length. The mark from the right main landing gear also indicates evidence of heavy braking but did not leave any indication of being locked up. The marks on the runway from the landing gear tires veered to the left and the mark from the left main landing gear stops approximately 30 feet before the edge of the runway, while the mark from the right main landing gear tire continued showing signs of heavy braking. Impact damage to the 1,000 foot remaining sign was noted, and the airplane traveled off the runway onto grass, and collided with a ditch.

Postaccident operational testing of the left brake assembly revealed no discrepancies. No brake drag was noted upon release of the left brake. The left main landing gear tire appeared new, and there was no scrapes or scuff marks on the tire. Inspection of the left brake rotor revealed no evidence of warping, and the brake pads appeared new.

Aircraft

Registration
N79941
Reported as
Cessna 172K
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17258268
Airframe hours
2,074
Engine
Lycoming O-360-A4M, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
Larry O. Blair
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · July 1, 2006
Departed
KEMV · Emporia, VA
Destination
W03 · Wilson, NC
Flight plan
VFR
Airport
KEMV · Emporia-Greensville Regional, runway 33, 5,044 × 100 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

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
45
Injuries
None
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Seat
Left
Flight hours
60 total · 25 in this make and model · 10 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
140° at 4 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
73 °F, dew point 39 °F
Altimeter
30.29 inHg
Observed at
KEMV

FAA reports on this event · 1

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