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Atlas / NTSB / ERA14CA169

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event ERA14CA169

2014-03-23 Knoxville, Tennessee, United States Airport · TN98 None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N8893V

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

CESSNA 172M

Year of manufacture

1974 · 40 years old at event

Engine

LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)

Seats / Engines

4 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19741029

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S AC4219

Registrant of record

EAST TENNESSEE PILOTS CLUB

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a collision with an obstacle.

Factual narrative

According to the student pilot, during the takeoff roll the airplane began to veer to the left after approximately 225 feet. The student pilot applied right rudder and reduced power in an attempt to regain control of the airplane. The airplane continued off of the runway and collided with a pole, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot did not report any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation prior to the accident. According to the student pilot, during the takeoff roll the airplane began to veer to the left after approximately 225 feet. The student pilot applied right rudder and reduced power in an attempt to regain control of the airplane. The airplane continued off of the runway and collided with a pole, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot did not report any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation prior to the accident. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Student/instructed pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Pole-Contributed to outcome

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2014_ERA14CA169.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.