Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 172N near Statesville, NC — 2017-02-18

Final reportERA17CA114
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Date
2017-02-18
Location
Statesville, NC, USA
Airport
SVH
Aircraft
CESSNA 172N
Registration
N738DS
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

A loss of airplane control during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

NTSB narrative

The student pilot was on the second leg of a solo cross-county training flight. During the landing flare at the destination airport, he landed the airplane "hard," and it bounced twice before he was able to regain control. He taxied back to the beginning of the runway and conducted a run-up. Noting no anomalies, he taxied onto the runway and started the takeoff roll. During the takeoff, he pulled back on the yoke "too far," and the airplane climbed between 30 and 40 ft before entering an aerodynamic stall and colliding with the ground. The nose landing gear collapsed, and the propeller struck the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. It could not be determined whether the airplane incurred damage during the hard landing that would have impacted the pilot's ability to maintain pitch control during the subsequent takeoff; therefore, the reason for the loss of control could not be determined.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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