Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 172 near Houston, TX — 2022-04-03

Final reportCEN22LA170
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Date
2022-04-03
Location
Houston, TX, USA
Airport
SGR
Aircraft
CESSNA 172
Registration
N857CP
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The student pilot’s failure to maintain direction control during takeoff in gusty wind conditions.

NTSB narrative

The student pilot reported that she was practicing touch and go landings. She had just added full power to take off when the airplane veered to the left. The student pilot attempted to correct with the application of right rudder; however, she perceived that the rudder was “locked into place” and required full body weight to apply full right rudder. The student pilot lost control of the airplane and exited the side of the runway which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. A postaccident examination of the airplane found no obvious malfunctions with the flight controls, although impact damage precluded full rudder deflection. The instructor pilot that witnessed the accident reported that the wind had increased past what was forecast and past the student pilot’s limit. At the time of the accident the student pilot was taking off on runway 17 with wind from 130° at 12 kts, gusting to 18 kts; the crosswind was calculated to be 11 kts.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Student pilot could have aborted takeoff earlier due to wind conditions.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents4

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