# NTSB WPR20CA167: Cessna 172, N478ER, Las Vegas, NV, June 3, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 3, 2020, 09:45 local (16:45 UTC) - Place: Las Vegas, NV - Coordinates: 36.210277, -115.195556 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2103&lon=-115.1956&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 101387 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20CA167 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101387/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101387 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA167 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during a soft-field takeoff and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action. ## 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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 75 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072401), [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 172R, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that during the instructional flight with the student pilot on the controls to practice a soft-field takeoff, the airplane started turning to the left "drastically" shortly after the airplane became airborne. The student told the flight instructor that he could not control the airplane, so the instructor assumed control to try and realign the airplane to runway centerline and re-touch down to abort the takeoff. Despite the flight instructors control inputs, the airplane continued to veer left and exited the left side of the runway. The airplane collided with the terrain substantially damaging the left wing. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor reported that during the instructional flight with the student pilot on the controls to practice a soft-field takeoff, the airplane started turning to the left "drastically" shortly after the airplane became airborne. The student told the flight instructor that he could not control the airplane, so the instructor assumed control to try and realign the airplane to runway centerline and re-touch down to abort the takeoff. Despite the flight instructors control inputs, the airplane continued to veer left and exited the left side of the runway. The airplane collided with the terrain substantially damaging the left wing. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N478ER](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N478ER-2021-08-02), registration cancelled 2021-08-02, S/N 17280623, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 (R) - Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17280623 - Year built: 1998 - Airframe hours: 15699.2 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2020, 84 hours before - Departed: VGT, Las Vegas, NV - Destination: VGT, Las Vegas, NV - Airport: VGT, North Las Vegas Airport, runway 30L, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 36; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 6, 2019; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 595 total, 306 in this make and model, 533 as pilot in command, 173 in the last 90 days, 77 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 29; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 71 total, 71 in this make and model, 8 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: VGT ## 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 20200603007349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200603007349A), Jun 3, 2020: Cessna 172R, North Las Vegas, NV, Substantial damage. On June 3, 2020 at approximately 0942 PDT, a 1998 Cessna 172R (N478ER), single engine airplane, fixed tricycle gear, with two people onboard, veered off runway… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 14, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101387. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485356&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo Array of Left Wing and Left Aileron Damage (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 134 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485357&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array%20of%20Left%20Wing%20and%20Left%20Aileron%20Damage-Master.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. --- 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.