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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

November 14, 1998 · Cessna 172N · N733AM

Lancaster, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 14, 1998
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Lancaster, CA
Aircraft
Cessna 172N
Tail Number
N733AM
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX99LA031

The student pilot lost control and veered off the runway to the left during the takeoff roll. He attempted to abort the takeoff by reducing power and applying brakes, but the aircraft continued off the runway into the scrub brush. The nose gear impacted a berm and the aircraft nosed over and came to rest inverted. The airport weather observation was reporting calm wind conditions at the time of the accident. The flight instructor who flew the aircraft right before the accident reported that he had not noted any discrepancies with the aircraft, nor were any found during the subsequent postaccident examination. The accident flight was the student pilot's second supervised solo flight.

NTSB Probable Cause

The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the aircraft.

Full Narrative

On November 14, 1998, at 1032 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172N, N733AM, veered off the side of the runway during the takeoff ground roll at the General Wm. J. Fox Airfield in Lancaster, California. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The local flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 as an instructional flight and originated at the Whiteman Airport, Pacoima, California, at 0915. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The student pilot reported that he, another student pilot, and a certified flight instructor had flown together to Fox Airfield so the two student pilots could practice traffic patterns at an unfamiliar airport. He reported that he performed some landings with the instructor still onboard, then he dropped the others off. This flight was the student pilot's second supervised solo flight. He began practicing touch-and-go landings to runway 24. During the second takeoff, he felt the airplane turn left, but he was not able to correct with right rudder. He reported that he was near midfield and at rotation speed, so he lifted off and planned to regain directional control once he was airborne. He landed and applied power to take off again, but the aircraft veered to the left. The pilot stated that he applied right rudder, but could not bring the aircraft back to the right. As he neared midfield, he attempted to abort the takeoff by reducing the power and applying the brakes. The aircraft continued to the left off the runway and through the scrub brush. The pilot reported that the aircraft continued, without slowing down, until the nose gear impacted a dirt berm that runs parallel to the taxiway. The aircraft nosed over and came to rest inverted. The airport weather observation was reporting calm wind conditions at the time of the accident. According to the school's chief pilot, the flight instructor who had flown the aircraft right before the accident noted no mechanical discrepancies. He further reported that subsequent postaccident examination of the aircraft did not reveal any mechanical discrepancies or anomalies.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:32 PST
Nearest AirportGeneral Fox Airfield (0nm)
Runway24
Runway Length5001 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172N
Tail NumberN733AM
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-H2AD · Reciprocating · 160
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 31 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point54 / 30 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time18:24
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data