9 Jul 2012: CESSNA 172S (N680MA) — Gateway Aviation — Allentown, PA

No fatalitiesAllentown, PA, United States

A student pilot and flight instructor were involved in a runway excursion during a touch-and-go landing in Pennsylvania.

What happened

On July 9, 2012, at approximately 1700 EDT, a Cessna 172S, registration N680MA, veered off the runway during a touch-and-go landing at Allentown Queen City Municipal Airport (XLL) in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The aircraft, operated by Gateway Aviation for local instruction, exited the left side of the runway and traveled across adjacent grass, a taxiway, and an intersecting runway. During the excursion, the airplane struck an airport sign and eventually came to rest near a berm.

The flight crew, consisting of a flight instructor and a student pilot, were not injured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the airframe and the horizontal stabilizer.

At the time of the accident, weather conditions were visual meteorological conditions (VMC) with a wind of 240 degrees at 4 knots and visibility of 10 miles.

Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a touch-and-go takeoff, leading to a runway excursion and impact with a gopher hole, combined with the flight instructor's inadequate supervision and delayed remedial response.

Contributing factors

Causes

Directional control — Not attained/maintainedStudent pilotInstructor/check pilot

Other contributing factors

Contributed to outcome