# NTSB NYC96LA009: Cessna 172G, N3773L, Wilkes-Barre, PA, October 16, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 16, 1995, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Wilkes-Barre, PA - Coordinates: 41.240283, -75.869728 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2403&lon=-75.8697&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 7, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39111 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC96LA009 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39111/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC96LA009 ## Probable cause the instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight. Contributing factors were the instructor's inexperience and the student pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - aircraft control - not maintained, dual student (contributing factor) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb ## Analysis The flight instructor and student pilot had made two takeoffs and landings without incident. During the third takeoff, the airplane started to drift to the left and the student pilot stated that there was a problem with the controls. The flight instructor stated that the controls were alright, and that there was a crosswind. When the airplane began to roll to the left, the flight instructor took over the controls. The airplane's left wing tip struck the ground, and the airplane cartwheeled. Examination of the wreckage revealed no mechanical problem with the airplane. The student pilot had a total of 27 hours of flight experience. This was his first flight in this make and model. The flight instructor was initially certificated as an instructor 4 days prior to the accident, and this was his first flight as an instructor. Winds at a nearby airport were reported to be from 250 degrees at 14 knots, gusting to 24. ## Factual narrative On October 16, 1995, at 1630 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172G, N3773L, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during takeoff at the Wilkes-Barre Wyoming Valley Airport (WBW), Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, for the instructional flight that originated at WBW. No flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the flight instructor stated that the student pilot had made two takeoffs and landings without incident. The flight instructor further stated: Upon our third takeoff, after we had started to accelerate, the student said "what's up with these ailerons?" and I said "they're good, we have a cross wind," just as we lifted off. At this point the aircraft started to roll to the left, although we had right aileron and right rudder in. I yelled, "I got it" and tried to straighten the aircraft out but could not. Shortly thereafter our left wing hit the dirt to the left of the runway and [we] started to "cartwheel." The flight instructor also stated in the report: Aborted takeoff when student mentioned something felt wrong with his controls. Although there was probably nothing wrong, I should have just returned back to the ramp. According to a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector's report, examination of the wreckage revealed no mechanical problems with the airplane. The student pilot had a total of 27 hours of flight experience, all in the Piper Tri-Pacer. This was his first flight in any Cessna airplane. The flight instructor was initially certificated as an instructor on October 16, 1995. This was his first flight as an instructor. Winds at a nearby airport were reported to be from 250 degrees at 14 knots, gusting to 24. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3773L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3773L-2002-02-01), registration cancelled 2002-02-01, S/N 17253942, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172G - Registry model: [Cessna 172G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172g) (registry code 2072420) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17253942 - Airframe hours: 3853 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: C.C. Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 24, 1995, 94 hours before - Departed: WBW - Airport: WBW, Wyoming Valley, runway 24, 3,376 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 275 total, 160 in this make and model, 176 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 14 knots, gusting 24 - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken - Temperature: 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: AVP, 8 nm away ## 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 19951016032729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951016032729A), Oct 16, 1995: Cessna 172G, Wilkes-Barre, PA, Substantial damage. Rolled left on liftoff. Wing hit and 172 cartwheeled. Wind gust. Surprised student. CFI first instructional flight. 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.