Cessna 172SP N2228L

Summary

On 1 January 2009 at about 14:30 local time, a Cessna 172SP registered N2228L, operated by Bob Miller Flight Training, Inc., was involved in an accident near Lancaster, New York, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 January 2009 at 14:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Lancaster, New York, United States

Nearest airport

Buffalo-Lancaster Regional (BQR)

Coordinates

42.9219, -78.6128

Aircraft

Cessna 172SP

Registration

N2228L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Bob Miller Flight Training, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lancaster → Lancaster

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Bright

NTSB number

ERA09CA119

Nobody was injured.

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the student pilot's lack of solo flight experience and the snow bank located off the left side of the runway.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The student pilot was conducting his first solo flight and had performed two uneventful stop-and-go landings. As the airplane accelerated during the third takeoff, it began to veer to the left. The student pilot applied right rudder; however, the airplane contacted a snow bank located off the left side of the runway and nosed over, substantially damaging the airplane. The student pilot stated that the winds were calm and the ailerons were in a neutral position during the takeoff. He did not report any mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.