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GAA19CA326

2019-06-08 · ORLANDO, Florida, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport ISM

Current FAA registration · N1589D

Make / Model
CESSNA 172R
Year of manufacture
2005 · 14 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING IO-360-L2A (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20051102
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A0EB7E

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The student pilot's excessive rudder application during takeoff and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in a loss of directional control, a runway excursion, and subsequent substantial damage.

Factual narrative

The flight instructor reported that, while the student pilot was practicing soft field takeoffs, the student added full power and maintained back pressure. He told the student to add right rudder, but the airplane veered left. The instructor told the student to add right rudder again, then the student abruptly added right rudder. The airplane veered to the right, the instructor attempted to correct, but the airplane exited the runway to the right, and the right wing and right horizontal stabilizer impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and right horizontal stabilizer. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The flight instructor reported that, while the student pilot was practicing soft-field takeoffs, the student added full power and maintained back pressure. He told the student to add right rudder, but the airplane veered left. The instructor told the student to add right rudder again, then the student abruptly added right rudder. The airplane veered right, the instructor attempted to correct, but the airplane exited the runway to the right, and the right wing and right horizontal stabilizer impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and right horizontal stabilizer. The instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. 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 Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Flight control system-Rudder control system-Incorrect use/operation - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Student/instructed pilot - C
  • C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Delayed action-Instructor/check pilot - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of equip/system-Student/instructed pilot - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2019_GAA19CA326.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

Search this event elsewhere

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Related research

Matched on aircraft type or causal vocabulary (icing, runway excursion). All research papers