Casualties unknown

2003-10-15: Cessna 172F (N5204F) — Columbus, NE

Columbus, NE, US

On October 15, 2003, a Cessna 172F (registration N5204F) was involved in an aviation accident near Columbus, NE. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during an aborted takeoff. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

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

A student pilot aborted a takeoff at 45 knots due to a left pull, departing the runway and nosing over after traveling through grass and a wheat field. No mechanical failure was found.

Accident Details

A student pilot experienced a loss of directional control during an aborted takeoff on runway 14, resulting in the airplane nosing over. The pilot had initially planned a touch-and-go landing but encountered difficulty controlling the aircraft due to crosswind conditions and opted for a full-stop landing instead. During the subsequent takeoff roll, the airplane began pulling to the left, prompting the pilot to abort at an airspeed of 45 knots.

Sequence of Events

The airplane departed the left side of the runway approximately 2,600 feet from the threshold of the approach end of runway 14. It then traveled about 320 feet through a grassy area before continuing an additional 100 feet into a wheat field. Tire marks indicated that once the airplane entered the wheat field, it began to slide to the right. Subsequently, the right wing contacted the terrain, causing the airplane to flip over. It came to rest inverted on a heading of 360 degrees, approximately 480 feet from the runway.

Investigation Findings

Post-accident inspection of the airplane revealed no mechanical failure or malfunction that would have resulted in the loss of directional control. The wind conditions at the time of the incident, reported at OLU at 1455, were from 70 degrees at 13 knots. According to Federal Aviation Administration records, the student pilot had reported 15 hours of flight time on the application for a third-class airman medical certificate dated September 5, 2003.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20031017X01755. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.