N5329L

Substantial
Minor

CESSNA 172SS/N: 172S9332

Accident Details

Date
Saturday, October 17, 2009
NTSB Number
WPR10CA019
Location
Honolulu, HI
Event ID
20091017X30334
Coordinates
21.318611, -157.922225
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
1
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The student pilot's distraction and subsequent loss of airplane control after the cabin window opened during the takeoff roll.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N5329L
Make
CESSNA
Serial Number
172S9332
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
2003
Model / ICAO
172SC172
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
MAKANI AVIATION LLC
Address
92-132 HIHIALOU PL
Status
Deregistered
City
KAPOLEI
State / Zip Code
HI 96707-2386
Country
United States

Analysis

The student pilot reported that the cabin window opened during the takeoff roll. He reached over to close the window, and a few seconds later, the airplane rotated and banked to the left. He attempted to regain control of the airplane, but it collided with the runway surface causing substantial damage to the firewall and both wings. The flight was to be the pilot's first solo cross-country; he reported 55 hours of total flight time, 1 hour of which was as pilot-in-command. Right gusting crosswinds existed at the time of the accident.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR10CA019