Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 172M near Lancaster, NY — 2022-05-14

Final reportERA22LA228
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Date
2022-05-14
Location
Lancaster, NY, USA
Airport
BQR
Aircraft
CESSNA 172M
Registration
N20459
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The student pilot’s excessive pitch during takeoff resulted in a loss of control and impact with terrain. Contributing was the student’s failure to relinquish the controls when ordered by the instructor.

Contributing factors

Contributing was the student’s failure to relinquish the controls when ordered by the instructor.

NTSB narrative

The flight instructor reported that after she demonstrated a soft-field takeoff, she directed the student to conduct one. During the takeoff roll, the student maintained excessive back pressure on the control yoke and was told by the instructor to reduce the back pressure. Once the airplane lifted off the runway it started to veer to the left; the instructor again informed the student to reduce back pressure to decrease the pitch, but the student maintained a grip on the controls and held excessive right rudder. The instructor stated, “I have the controls,” but the student “locked up and blocked” them and failed to relinquish the controls. The instructor was able to reduce the pitch, but directional control was lost, and the left wing contacted the runway surface, and the airplane departed the runway and flipped over, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and airframe. The instructor stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents4

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