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ERA12CA369

2012-05-27 · Gainesville, Georgia, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport GVL

Current FAA registration · N787LF

Make / Model
CESSNA 172S
Year of manufacture
2011 · 1 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING IO-360-L2A (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20110922
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S AAAB87

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The student pilot's improper use of the flight controls during the takeoff and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action. Contributing to the accident was the student pilot’s interference with the flight instructor’s attempted remedial actions.

Factual narrative

The certified flight instructor reported that he was providing instruction to a student with about 10 hours of flight experience. During the first takeoff roll, the student attempted to steer the airplane with the control yoke versus the rudder pedals. The flight instructor provided verbal instruction and then attempted to take control of the airplane. The student continued by applying full left rudder, which the flight instructor was unable to counter. The flight instructor was eventually able to take control and the takeoff was rejected. The instructor could not stop the airplane before it overran the runway and collided with the glide slope antenna. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration inspected the wreckage and confirmed substantial damage to the fuselage and horizontal stabilizer. Skid marks confirmed the flight instructor's attempt to stop the airplane. The flight instructor reported that he was providing instruction to a student who had about 10 hours of flight experience. During the first takeoff roll, the student attempted to steer the airplane with the control yoke instead of the rudder pedals. The flight instructor provided verbal instruction and then attempted to take control of the airplane. The student applied full left rudder, which the flight instructor was unable to counter. The flight instructor was eventually able to reject the takeoff, but the airplane continued to turn to the left, as the student was “frozen on the left rudder.” The instructor could not stop the airplane before it overran the runway and collided with the glideslope antenna. Postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the fuselage and horizontal stabilizer. Skid marks confirmed the flight instructor's attempt to stop the airplane and the airplane’s continued turn to the left. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of equip/system-Student pilot - C
  • C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Delayed action-Instructor/check pilot - C
  • F Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Unneccessary action-Student pilot - F

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2012_ERA12CA369.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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