Cessna 172N N733BS

Summary

On 30 July 2009 at about 17:21 local time, a Cessna 172N registered N733BS, operated by Manassas Aviation Center, was involved in an accident near Manassas, Virginia, 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

30 July 2009 at 17:21

Classification

Accident

Location

Manassas, Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Manassas Regional Airport (HEF)

Coordinates

38.7194, -77.5092

Aircraft

Cessna 172N

Registration

N733BS

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Manassas Aviation Center

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Manassas → Manassas

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA09CA430

Nobody was injured.

The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

On his third solo flight, the student pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings on the 3,703-foot-long by 100-foot-wide runway, and he had successfully completed one circuit. His flight instructor, who witnessed the accident, stated that on the second takeoff attempt the aircraft swerved to the left of the runway centerline as both main tires skidded, and the airplane impacted a runway sign. The student pilot continued the takeoff and the airplane became airborne. While the airplane was in the traffic pattern, the engine seized due to damage sustained during the takeoff sequence. The flight instructor provided guidance to maintain airspeed and aircraft control over the radio, and the student pilot subsequently landed without further incident. In his statement, the student pilot explained that the left brake was sticking during his initial takeoff roll; however, examination of the airplane after the accident revealed no mechanical anomalies. The flight instructor reported that the student pilot had been instructed to “abort the takeoff by pulling the throttle to idle and applying the brakes as appropriate” if the takeoff roll was not normal.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.