N738DS

Substantial
None

CESSNA 172NS/N: 17269901

Accident Details

Date
Saturday, February 18, 2017
NTSB Number
ERA17CA114
Location
Statesville, NC
Event ID
20170224X40429
Coordinates
35.764999, -80.953887
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

A loss of airplane control during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N738DS
Make
CESSNA
Serial Number
17269901
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Model / ICAO
172NC172
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Analysis

The student pilot was on the second leg of a solo cross county training flight. During the flare at the destination airport, he landed the airplane "hard" and it bounced twice before he was able to regained control. He taxied back to the beginning of the runway and conducted a run-up. Noting no anomalies, he taxied onto the runway and started the takeoff roll. During the takeoff, he pulled back on the yoke "too far" and the airplane climbed between 30 and 40 feet before entering an aerodynamic stall and colliding with the ground. The nose gear collapsed and the propeller struck the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane before the landing. It could not be determined whether the airplane incurred damage during the hard landing that would have impacted the pilot's ability to maintain pitch control during takeoff.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA17CA114