# NTSB NYC95LA072: Cessna 120, N77467, Skaneateles, NY, March 12, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 12, 1995, 14:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Skaneateles, NY - Coordinates: 42.890388, -76.370704 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8904&lon=-76.3707&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 10, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38931 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA072 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38931/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA072 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control and his improper use of the brakes. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - Nose over, takeoff - aborted - brakes(normal) - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis This was the student's final cross-country flight needed to qualify for his private pilot license. He reported about 140 solo takeoffs in the aircraft. According to the pilot, 'I executed a sharp 180 degree turn and lined up with the centerline. Since I stopped at this point and did not pull ahead, the tailwheel was unlocked and at approximately 90 degrees to the runway axis. Upon applying power, the tailwheel carried the rear of the plane slightly to the right (and the nose to the left) as it straightened out to trail behind. My reaction to the leftward movement of the nose was to apply right rudder... As the craft rolled off the pavement on its straight, misguided course, the left wheel approached a snow pile at the intersection of a taxiway with the runway.' The pilot reduced power to abort the takeoff. Upon the application of brakes, the aircraft nosed over and came to rest inverted. The piloted stated the accident could have been prevented by a better understanding of the tailwheel mechanism, and a better familiarity with the braking characteristics of the aircraft ## Factual narrative On Sunday, March 12, 1995 about 1415 eastern standard time, a Cessna 120, N77467, owned and operated by Dennis Wilson, was substantially damaged during takeoff from Aero Drome Airport, in Skaneateles, New York. The student pilot was not injured. A visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the training flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions existed. This was the student's final cross-country flight needed to qualify for his private pilot license. He reported about 140 solo takeoffs in his tailwheel-equipped airplane. According to the pilot, "I executed a sharp 180 degree turn and lined up with the centerline. Since I stopped at this point and did not pull ahead, the tail wheel was unlocked and at approximately 90 degrees to the runway axis. Upon applying power, the tail wheel carried the rear of the plane slightly to the right (and the nose to the left) as it straightened out to trail behind. My reaction to the leftward movement of the nose was to apply right rudder... As the craft rolled off the pavement on its straight, misguided course, the left wheel approached a snow pile at the intersection of a taxiway with the runway." The pilot reduced power to abort the takeoff. Upon the application of brakes, the aircraft nosed over and came to rest inverted. The piloted stated the accident could have been prevented by a better understanding of the tail wheel mechanism, and a better familiarity with the braking characteristics of the aircraft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N77467](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N77467-2015-04-06), registration cancelled 2015-04-06, S/N 11911 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 120 - Registry model: [Cessna 120](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-120) (registry code 2071402) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 11911 - Airframe hours: 2550 - Engines: Continental C-85 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Dennis J. Wilson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 9, 1994, 56 hours before - Departed: JHW, JAMESTOWN, NY - Destination: 6B9, NY - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 6B9, Aero Drome, runway 10, 3,134 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 65 total, 61 in this make and model, 32 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots, gusting 5 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F ## 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 19950312003699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950312003699A), Mar 12, 1995: Cessna 120, Skaneateles, NY, Substantial damage. During takeoff, aircraft ran off runway and flipped over. (.19) on Sunday, March 12, 1995 about 1415 eastern standard time, a Cessna 120, N77467, owned and… 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.