- Date
- August 8, 1999, 09:15 local (13:15 UTC)
- Place
- Savannah, GA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N9514QCessna 172R
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 21, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990808011149A
- Case key
- 47032
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during a touch-and-go landing, resulting in the airplane running off the runway and colliding with a runway 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.
Analysis
On his second touch and go landing, the student pilot landed left of runway centerline and despite efforts to steer toward the centerline while on the 'go', the airplane continued a left veer until departure from the runway, collision with a runway edge sign, and collision with an intersecting runway. Inspection by FAA personnel revealed no precrash mechanical failure or malfunction with the airplane's flight control or braking systems, and damage was caused by the sign collision.
Factual narrative
On August 8, 1999, about 0915 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172R, N9514Q, registered to J & S Aircraft Services, Inc., operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, crashed on takeoff during a touch-and-go landing at Savannah International Airport, Savannah, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage and the student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated from the same airport about 0830.
According to the student pilot, he was performing his second touch-and-go landing, and touched down left of runway 27 centerline. Following his touchdown, while adding power for the "go" he tried to steer closer to the centerline using right rudder; however, the airplane continued veering left until it departed the runway and collided with a runway sign. The airplane continued across the infield, crossed an intersecting runway, (runway 18/36), ground looped, recrossed the intersecting runway, and came to rest on the east side of runway 18/36. The student pilot did not indicate that he thought the accident was caused by any mechanical failure of the airplane.
Subsequent examination of the airplane by FAA personnel revealed the left main wheel assembly had separated due to collision with the runway sign. Maintenance records revealed no previous flight control or braking system malfunctions.
Airport winds reported about 20 minutes before the accident were from 250 degrees at 8 knots. The pilot reported that he encountered no wind gusts or turbulence.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9514Q
- Reported as
- Cessna 172R
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17280397
- Airframe hours
- 597
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-L2A, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- J & S Aviation Svcs, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 1, 1999 · 75 hours before
- Departed
- SAV
- Airport
- SAV · Savannah International, runway 27, 9,351 × 150 ft, concrete
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
- 39
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 25 total · 25 in this make and model · 4 as pilot in command · 25 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 250° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 86 °F, dew point 82 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SAV
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.