# NTSB NYC97LA086: Cessna 177, N2921X, Lancaster, OH, April 30, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 30, 1997, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Lancaster, OH - Coordinates: 39.719429, -82.590637 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7194&lon=-82.5906&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 2, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39353 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC97LA086 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39353/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA086 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's inadequate supervision and his failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, which resulted in the airplane departing the runway and striking the precision approach path indicator lights. ## 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 - weather condition - crosswind - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - rudder - excessive, dual student - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - aborted - object - vasi light/system ## Analysis The certified flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot (SP), who was reported as having less than an hour of flight time, were departing on a local training flight. The CFI performed the takeoff. The CFI told the SP to follow through on the controls, and to advance the throttle slowly. He advised the SP to expect a correction for the wind by lowering the left wing, and said that they would use the rudders to keep the airplane straight. When the throttle was advanced, the airplane immediately started to drift left. The CFI stated that for some reason, the SP applied full left rudder. The CFI could not over come this, and pulled the throttle shut. The airplane continued off the left side of the runway and came to a stop after striking two Precision Approach Path Indicator lights. The CFI did not recall if he or the student pilot attempted to stop the airplane using the brakes. Winds were reported from 190 degrees at 11 knots, with gusts to 20 knots. Examination of the airplane revealed no malfunction of the airplane's brakes or nose wheel steering system. ## Factual narrative On April 30, 1997, about 1630 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 177, N2921X, was substantially damaged when it collided with approach lights during the takeoff roll on runway 28 at the Fairfield County Airport, Lancaster, Ohio. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot (SP) were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR 91. In a written statement, and during a telephone interview, the flight instructor stated that he performed the takeoff. The CFI told the SP to follow through on the controls, and to advance the throttle slowly. He advised the SP to expect a correction for the wind by "lowering the left wing" and said that they would use the rudders to keep the airplane straight. When the throttle was advanced, the airplane immediately started to drift left. The CFI further stated: "...For some reason, he [SP] applied full left rudder. I tried, but could not overcome this, so I pulled the throttle shut..." The airplane continued off the left side of the runway, and came to a stop after it struck two Precision Approach Path Indicator lights. The CFI did not recall if he or the student pilot attempted to stop the airplane using the brakes. A post-accident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector revealed no malfunction of the airplane's brakes or nose wheel steering system. Winds reported at the Fairfield County Airport, at 1953, and 2053, were from 190 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 20 knots, and from 190 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 19 knots, respectively. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2921X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2921X-2015-10-21), registration cancelled 2015-10-21, S/N 17700321, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 177 - Registry model: [Cessna 177](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177) (registry code 2073704) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17700321 - Airframe hours: 1920 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Quinton Hargus - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 1996, 18 hours before - Departed: LHQ - Airport: LHQ, Fairfield County, runway 10, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 15,500 total, 60 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 11 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LHQ ## 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 19970430008459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970430008459A), Apr 30, 1997: Cessna 177, Lancaster, OH, Substantial damage. CFI lost control during crosswind takeoff when student used full downwind rudder. CFI unable cope. Hit lights. (-23) see narrative #NYC97LA086 ## Other investigations on N2921X (3) 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. - [NTSB MIA89LA238](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89LA238), Sep 2, 1989: Cessna 177 (N2921X), Woodville, MS, substantial damage. Probable cause: IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION, DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS AND THE DITCH. - [NTSB MIA71DKT29](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA71DKT29), Dec 20, 1970: Cessna 177 (N2921X), Ochopee, FL, substantial damage - [NTSB MIA68D0461](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA68D0461), Mar 23, 1968: Cessna 177 (N2921X), W.Hollywood, FL, substantial damage 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.