Casualties unknown

2002-09-01: Cessna 152 (N68414) — Sanford, FL

Sanford, FL, US

On September 1, 2002, a Cessna 152 (registration N68414) was involved in an aviation accident near Sanford, FL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the takeoff roll/run which resulted in the airplane departing the runway and into a ditch where it nosed over incurring substantial damage. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

During a student's first solo flight, the airplane veered left off the runway during a touch-and-go landing, entered a shallow ditch, and flipped over. No mechanical issues were found.

Accident Details

A student pilot reported that the accident occurred during their first solo flight. According to the student, the approach and landing were uneventful. While reconfiguring the airplane for takeoff following a touch-and-go landing, and as takeoff power was applied, the airplane veered to the left of the runway centerline.

Sequence of Events

The airplane departed the runway surface and entered the grass adjacent to the runway. It subsequently traveled into a shallow ditch, where it flipped over, resulting in damage to the aircraft. The student pilot stated that prior to the accident, there had been no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the aircraft or any of its systems.

Investigation Findings

The investigation revealed no evidence of pre-existing mechanical issues that could have contributed to the loss of directional control. The specific cause of the veer was not determined based on the available information. The aircraft was not equipped with any system that would automatically correct for directional deviations during takeoff power application on a touch-and-go maneuver.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20020910X01570. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.