Cessna 172
Crystal River, FL — January 31, 2020
Event Information
| Date | January 31, 2020 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | ERA20CA093 |
| Event ID | 20200131X50937 |
| Location | Crystal River, FL |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 28.86750, -82.57417 |
| Airport | Crystal River-Captain Tom Davi |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | Cessna |
| Model | 172 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent nose-over.
Full Narrative
The student pilot reported that, during the preflight inspection for his second solo flight, "the rudder pedals felt as if they had less resistance than normal." While conducting the second taking off, the airplane veered left, he applied right rudder but was unable to regain directional control. The airplane exited the runway to the left, on to the adjacent grass and nosed over.The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the left wing lift strut, and the vertical stabilizer.
A Federal Aviation Administrator inspector who examined the airplane after the accident confirmed flight control continuity and reported no anomalies with the flight controls or brakes.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.