Event SEA07LA044

Factual narrative

On January 10, 2007, at 0932 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172S, N534SP, veered from the runway during takeoff from General William J Fox Airfield, Lancaster, California, and nosed-over. Edwards Aero Club was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot departed from Edwards Air Force Base, Edwards, California, at 0900. According to the pilot, he had just landed on the runway and came to a complete stop. He raised the flaps to 10 degrees, applied full braking, applied full throttle, and released the brakes to initiate a short field takeoff. Several seconds after brake release and prior to airplane rotation, the airplane began to veer to the left. He attempted to realign the airplane on the centerline by applying right rudder and right brake, at which time the airplane veered sharply to the left in a skidding motion. As the airplane departed the runway surface, he positioned the throttle to idle and applied full braking. The pilot noted a dirt berm that ran parallel to the runway, and attempting to prevent a head-on collision with the berm, he discontinued his left brake application and concentrated on right brake and right rudder. The airplane began to turn back to the right; however, the airplane impacted the berm and nosed-over. The Federal Aviation Administration accident coordinator examined the airplane at the accident site. The accident coordinator noted skid marks on the runway that departed the runway to the left. Examination of the steering and braking systems did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical anomalies. The accident coordinator stated that prior to the Cessna 172S landing, a Cessna Citation 560 landed with an FAA inspector on board. The Citation landed long and then taxied to the ramp at 0930. The Cessna 172S landed, stopped on the runway, and then began the takeoff roll at 0932. According to the closest official aviation weather reporting station at William J. Fox Field, the winds at the time of the accident were calm. The student pilot stated that wake turbulence was encountered during the takeoff roll, directional control was lost, and the airplane nosed-over after impacting a berm off the runway surface. A larger, twin-engine jet aircraft landed long about 2 minutes prior to the accident. The student pilot then landed, stopped, and began his takeoff roll. During the takeoff roll, the airplane began to veer to the left. The pilot attempted to realign the airplane on the centerline by applying right rudder and right brake, at which time the airplane veered sharply to the left in a skidding motion. The airplane impacted a berm and nosed-over. The FAA accident coordinator stated that there were no pre-impact mechanical anomalies with the airplane. Winds were calm at the time of the accident. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12