Summary
On October 05, 2018, a Cessna 172 (N78239) was involved in an incident near Stockton, CA. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.
The solo student pilot reported that during a touch and go landing roll, he reduced the throttle to idle, attempted to retract the flaps, but could have moved the flaps to the down position, and he turned off the carburetor heat. During departure, prior to rotation, the airplane veered to the left and he applied opposite rudder, but the airplane impacted a taxiway sign. The nose landing gear separated from the firewall and the airplane exited the runway to the left and came to rest upright in a field adjacent to the runway.
The pilot added that he was not familiar to the airplane's flap system.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall structural plate and the lower firewall flange.
This incident is documented in NTSB report GAA19CA014. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N78239.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
The solo student pilot reported that during a touch and go landing roll, he reduced the throttle to idle, attempted to retract the flaps, but could have moved the flaps to the down position, and he turned off the carburetor heat. During departure, prior to rotation, the airplane veered to the left and he applied opposite rudder, but the airplane impacted a taxiway sign. The nose landing gear separated from the firewall and the airplane exited the runway to the left and came to rest upright in a field adjacent to the runway.
The pilot added that he was not familiar to the airplane's flap system.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall structural plate and the lower firewall flange.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA19CA014