Cessna 172S N796SP

Summary

On 3 May 2010 at about 18:00 local time, a Cessna 172S registered N796SP, operated by Opensky Airways LLC, was involved in an accident near Palo Alto, California, United States. 2 people were 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

3 May 2010 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Palo Alto, California, United States

Nearest airport

Palo Alto (KPAO)

Coordinates

37.4611, -122.1150

Aircraft

Cessna 172S

Registration

N796SP

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Opensky Airways LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Palo Alto → Concord

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR10CA230

Nobody was injured.

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control and the certified flight instructor’s delayed response to the student pilot's loss of control during the takeoff roll.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The certified flight instructor (CFI) reported that the student pilot, who was seated in the left seat, was performing a short field takeoff. The CFI said that during the takeoff, the airplane yawed left dramatically and became airborne in a nose-high attitude. The CFI reported that she took control and "pushed" forward on the yoke and regained control of the airplane; however, in the process, the airplane collided with an anemometer pole. The CFI reported that she was able to continue the flight, entered a non-standard pattern for the runway and landed without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer; damage was also noted to the right wing. No pre accident mechanical deficiencies or anomalies with the airplane were reported.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.