# NTSB WPR10CA019: Cessna 172S, N5329L, Honolulu, HI, October 17, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 17, 2009, 11:11 local (21:11 UTC)
- Place: Honolulu, HI
- Coordinates: 21.318611, -157.922225 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=21.3186&lon=-157.9222&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report March 3, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74913
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10CA019
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74913/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74913
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA019

## Probable cause

The student pilot's distraction and subsequent loss of airplane control after the cabin window opened during the takeoff roll.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 206 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Windows-windshield system: flight compartment windows](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035610): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Unintentional use/operation; cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035610/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 42 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035610/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 49 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 118 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot reported that the cabin window opened during the takeoff roll. He reached over to close the window and a few seconds later the airplane rotated and banked to the left. He attempted to regain control of the airplane, but it collided with the runway surface, causing substantial damage to the firewall and both wings. The flight was to be the pilot's first solo cross-country flight; he reported 55 hours of total flight time, 1 hour of which was as pilot-in-command. Right gusting crosswinds existed at the time of the accident.

## Factual narrative

The student pilot reported that the cabin window opened during the takeoff roll. He reached over to close the window, and a few seconds later, the airplane rotated and banked to the left. He attempted to regain control of the airplane, but it collided with the runway surface causing substantial damage to the firewall and both wings. The flight was to be the pilot's first solo cross-country; he reported 55 hours of total flight time, 1 hour of which was as pilot-in-command. Right gusting crosswinds existed at the time of the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5329L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5329L-2017-03-21), registration cancelled 2017-03-21, S/N 172S9332, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S
- Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172S9332
- Airframe hours: 5219
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 15, 2009, 72 hours before
- Departed: PHNL, Honolulu, HI
- Destination: PHNY, Lanai, HI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: PHNL, Honolulu International, runway 04L, 6,952 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 35; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 55 total, 55 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 14 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PHNL

## 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 20091017019509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091017019509A), Oct 17, 2009: Cessna 172S, Honolulu, HI, Substantial damage. Student pilot of N5329L, C-172S, runway 4L, during the take-off roll the left hand window opened. The student pilot attempted to close the window, got airborne…

## Other investigations on N5329L (2)

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 LAX08LA283](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08LA283), Jul 30, 2008: Cessna 172 (N5329L), Honolulu, HI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight's encounter with the jet wash from a parked commercial airplane while taxiing for takeoff.
- [NTSB LAX03LA170](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA170), May 29, 2003: Cessna 172S (N5329L), Kapolei, HI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's misjudged landing flare, and improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in the collapse of the nose landing gear and structural damage to the airplane.

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 18, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74913. 1.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40321215&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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.

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