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WPR12CA038

2011-11-12 · Phoenix, Arizona, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport DVT

Current FAA registration · N24350

Make / Model
CESSNA 172S
Year of manufacture
2006 · 5 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING IO-360-L2A (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20060329
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A23E44

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The student pilot's inadequate directional control during takeoff.

Factual narrative

The student pilot reported that during a touch-and-go landing, he applied power for takeoff and the airplane began to veer to the left. Despite the student pilot's control inputs, the airplane continued to veer to the left and exited the runway surface. Subsequently, the airplane struck a ditch and nosed over, which resulted in structural damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The student pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The student pilot reported that during a touch-and-go practice landing and takeoff, he landed the airplane and applied power to take off. As the airplane accelerated, it began to veer to the left. Despite the student pilot's control inputs, the airplane continued to veer to the left, exited the runway surface, struck a ditch, and nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The student pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures 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 Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Student pilot - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2011_WPR12CA038.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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