- Date
- December 11, 1996, 11:40 local (16:40 UTC)
- Place
- Mansfield, MA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N68180Cessna 152
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19961211039219A
- Case key
- 39308
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 during the takeoff roll, which resulted in the airplane veering into a snowbank. The proximity of the snowbank was a related factor.
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
The student pilot attempted a practice soft field takeoff on an asphalt runway. He stated that he applied insufficient rudder during the takeoff roll, and the airplane veered left into a snowbank and nosed over. Examination of the airplane revealed no preimpact failure of the airplane or brake system. At the time of the accident, the runway was dry, and the wind was calm. The student pilot had 21 hours of total solo flight time.
Factual narrative
On December 11, 1996, at 1140 eastern standard time, a Cessna 152, N68180, was substantially damaged when it collided with a snow bank during the takeoff roll at the Mansfield Municipal Airport, Mansfield, Massachusetts. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the solo flight that originated at Mansfield. No flight plan had been filed for the local flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the student pilot (SP) stated that he attempted a practice soft field takeoff on the asphalt runway at Mansfield. He further stated:
"...Insufficient rudder control at full power caused aircraft to veer left off runway and into snow. Power was cut and as aircraft lost momentum nosewheel sank causing aircraft to flip over."
According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, examination of the airplane revealed no preimpact failures of the airplane or brake system. The FAA Inspector also reported that at the time of the accident, the runway was dry and the winds were calm.
The SP's total flying experience was about 75 hours in make and model, of which 21 hours were solo flight.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N68180
- Reported as
- Cessna 152
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15282167
- Airframe hours
- 6,309
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-L2C, 110 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- King Aviation Mansfield Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · November 13, 1996 · 79 hours before
- Departed
- 1B9
- Airport
- 1B9 · Mansfield Municipal, runway 32, 3,498 × 75 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
- 46
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 76 total · 76 in this make and model · 21 as pilot in command · 25 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- OWD, 13 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.