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NTSB Report

September 24, 2018 · Cessna 172 Undesignat · N6950A

Winter Haven, FL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 24, 2018
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Winter Haven, FL
Aircraft
Cessna 172 Undesignat (1956)
Tail Number
N6950A
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA18LA257

The student pilot was conducting a supervised solo flight in the airport traffic pattern. Each of the previous two takeoff and landings were uneventful. During the initial climb on the third takeoff, the student observed the airspeed rapidly decrease. He declared an emergency, lowered the nose, and turned the airplane 180° to land on the runway. The airplane overran the end of the runway and impacted a fence, resulting in substantial damage to the windshield and left wing. The student’s instructor witnessed the takeoff and stated that the airplane’s angle of attack was excessively high and that there would have been adequate runway remaining for the student to land straight ahead instead of turning 180°. Postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies. It is likely that the student pilot’s excessively nose-high pitch attitude during the takeoff resulted in the observed loss of airspeed.

NTSB Probable Cause

The student pilot’s improper pitch attitude control during the initial climb, which resulted in a loss of airspeed, and his subsequent decision to conduct a 180° turn following the perceived anomaly, which resulted in a runway overrun.

Full Narrative

On September 24, 2018, at 0957 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N6950A, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Winter Haven, Florida. The student pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The student pilot stated that the accident flight was his third flight around the airport traffic pattern with his flight instructor observing from the ground. Each of the previous two takeoffs and landings were uneventful. During the third takeoff from runway 5, the acceleration and airspeed appeared normal during the climb, but after reaching about 300 ft above the ground, the airspeed began quickly decreasing from 60 knots to 50 knots. He declared an emergency, lowered the nose, and turned the airplane 180° to land on the runway. He reported he was “far down the runway” before he could get the airplane on the ground, and, once he landed, he could not stop the airplane within the remaining runway distance. The airplane continued off the runway and impacted a perimeter fence before coming to a stop. The student pilot reported that in the initial climb, “the plane started losing power;” however, he did not report any other anomalies or a loss of engine rpm. The instructor stated that the student was flying well during the previous two takeoffs and landings, but during the third takeoff, the airplane appeared to be at an excessively high angle of attack during the climb, and the airspeed was likely “bleeding off.” The airplane was directly over the runway when the student turned 180° even though “he had plenty of runway ahead of him.” After the accident, the instructor reviewed the accident flight with the student and during subsequent flight instruction, they performed a similar scenario to show the effects of airplane performance, situational awareness, and how to safely recover from excessive angle of attack. Photographs provided by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the left wing and windshield sustained substantial damage. The instructor, who was also the airplane owner, reported that during postaccident maintenance and repair, no mechanical irregularities were observed with the engine or airplane.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:57 EDT
Nearest AirportWinter Haven'S Gilbert (1nm WSW)
Runway23
Runway Length5006 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172 Undesignat
Tail NumberN6950A
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-300 SER · Reciprocating · 145
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 59 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind100° @ 8 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Altimeter30.07 inHg
Observation Time13:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data