Cessna 172 N53587

Summary

On 27 November 2020 at about 18:05 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N53587, operated by Chapel Hill Flying Club, Inc, was involved in an accident near Sanford, North Carolina, 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

27 November 2020 at 18:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Sanford, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Raleigh Executive Jetport at S (TTA)

Coordinates

35.5824, -79.1013

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N53587

Category

Airplane

Year built

2003

Engines

1

Operator

Chapel Hill Flying Club, Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA21LA057

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff in crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The student pilot reported that prior to takeoff, he was aware of a left crosswind of about 5 knots and compensated by applying extra left aileron. During the takeoff roll about 45 to 50 knots, the airplane started to veer to the left. The pilot stated that the airplane, “felt like it had lifted off the ground” in a gradual left roll and he was unable to correct with right aileron or sufficient rudder. Once the airplane departed the runway, he reduced the power and applied the brakes, but the airplane skidded down an embankment and collided with a hill. The impact separated the engine from the mounts and the nose landing gear was sheared off which caused substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that he likely had more left aileron than was necessary for the crosswind at the beginning of the takeoff roll, and he did not reduce the control application as the airspeed increased. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.