Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 177 near Ridgeland, SC — 2017-12-19

Final reportERA18LA054
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Date
2017-12-19
Location
Ridgeland, SC, USA
Airport
3J1
Aircraft
CESSNA 177
Registration
N3179T
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The student pilot’s improper control inputs, which resulted in a loss of control on takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate remedial action.

NTSB narrative

The flight instructor stated that the student pilot was performing a takeoff while the flight instructor gently held the control wheel with both hands. The student pilot had his left hand on the control wheel and his right hand on the throttle as the airplane accelerated down the runway. When the airspeed reached 65 knots, the student pilot initiated a climb, but the airplane began to pull to the left; this airplane has an inherent tendency to turn left during takeoff. The flight instructor tried to take control of the airplane, but the student pilot continued to hold the control wheel and throttle. The flight instructor had good aileron and elevator control as he tried to maneuver away from the approaching hangars and maintain airspeed; however, he could not recall if the rudder pedals moved when he pushed them. The airplane continued left, touched down momentarily, then bounced back in the air. The flight instructor realized the airplane was not going to clear the hangars, so he shut off the engine with the mixture control. The airplane struck a hangar with the left wing, pivoted, and struck another hangar with its right wing before coming to a stop; the airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the empennage. The student pilot stated that he remembered adding full power to takeoff and then initiating a climb at 70 knots. He did not remember what happened after that except that they had “no rudder control” and could not maintain the runway centerline. Postaccident examination of the airplane’s flight controls revealed continuity for each control, including the rudder, and no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions were identified that would have precluded normal operation. Because the flight instructor did not recall if the rudder pedals moved when he tried to press on them and the student pilot never let go of the throttle or control wheel, the student pilot likely had his feet on the rudder pedals, which impeded the instructor from taking full control of the airplane and resulted in the loss of control.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Instructor could have taken control earlier to prevent loss of control.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents5

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