Skip to content

WPR14CA163

2014-04-09 · Everett, Washington, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport PAE

Current FAA registration · N1152Z

Make / Model
CESSNA 172S
Year of manufacture
2006 · 8 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING IO-360-L2A (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20061121
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A0417C

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a takeoff, which resulted in the airplane veering off the runway surface and colliding with a sign.

Factual narrative

The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to perform several touch-and-go practice takeoffs and landings and then perform practice maneuvers in the local area. The pilot departed the active runway without incident and continued around the traffic pattern. The airplane touched down on the main landing gear and was slightly to the left of the runway centerline. As the nose wheel touched down, the pilot raised the wing flaps and shortly thereafter, he applied full engine power in an effort to takeoff. The airplane began to veer to the left of the centerline. The airplane departed the runway surface and continued into the adjacent grassy area at which point the pilot retarded throttle while simultaneously applying brakes. The airplane collided with the sign and the nose wheel collapsed. During the accident sequence, the airplane incurred substantial damage to the firewall. There was no report of a preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to perform several touch-and-go practice takeoffs and landings and then perform practice maneuvers in the local area. The pilot departed the active runway without incident and continued around the traffic pattern. The airplane touched down on the main landing gear and was slightly to the left of the runway centerline. As the nose wheel touched down, the pilot raised the wing flaps and shortly thereafter, he applied full engine power in an effort to takeoff. The airplane began to veer to the left of the centerline. The airplane departed the runway surface and continued into the adjacent grassy area at which point the pilot retarded throttle while simultaneously applying brakes. The airplane collided with the sign and the nose wheel collapsed. During the accident sequence, the airplane incurred substantial damage to the firewall. There was no report of a preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure 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 Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Sign/marker-Contributed to outcome

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2014_WPR14CA163.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.