History of Flight
On April 4, 2013, at approximately 0930 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172S (N2166K) was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during an attempted takeoff from Deer Valley Airport (DVT) in Phoenix, Arizona. The certified flight instructor (CFI), the student pilot, and a passenger-observer were uninjured. The flight was conducted under Part 91 in visual meteorological conditions. The purpose was to practice takeoffs and landings. The student pilot occupied the left seat and the CFI the right seat.
During the takeoff roll on runway 7R, the student pilot initially overcorrected with right rudder, causing the airplane to veer right. The CFI verbally instructed a correction to the left, which the student applied but overcorrected, veering left while accelerating. As the airplane crossed the centerline from right to left, the CFI took physical control. As the airplane approached the left runway edge, the CFI attempted to lift off. After liftoff, the nose dropped, the airplane banked right, and struck the runway. The CFI reduced engine power. The airplane came to rest inverted. All occupants evacuated, and there was no fire or fuel spill.
Personnel Information
The CFI, student pilot, and passenger were associated with the Westwind School of Aeronautics (WSA) based at DVT. The student pilot had about 4 hours of total flight experience, all in the accident airplane make and model, with his first instructional flight six days prior. The accident was his fourth flight. The CFI obtained his flight instructor certificate in February 2013 and commercial certificate in August 2012, both for airplane single engine only. His most recent FAA first-class medical was issued in December 2011. He had about 308 hours total flight experience, all in single-engine airplanes, with about 57 hours as an instructor, including 39 hours in the accident airplane.
Aircraft Information
The airplane was manufactured in 2005 and registered to a corporation in Phoenix. It was equipped with a Lycoming IO-360 series engine. According to the flight school, the airplane had about 3,271 hours total time in service. The most recent inspection was on March 15, 2013, and it had been operated about 13 hours since then.
Meteorological Information
The DVT 0953 automated weather observation reported wind from 230 degrees at 3 knots, visibility 10 miles, clear skies, temperature 24°C, dew point 1°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.05 inches of mercury.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane came to rest adjacent to the south side of runway 7R, about 1,450 feet from where the takeoff roll began. Ground scars extended about 300 feet. The airplane veered off the left side of 7R near taxiway B3, then traversed off the right side about 150 feet beyond the left excursion. Paint transfer marks and damage were consistent with the right wing and tailplane first striking the runway. Propeller slash marks were evident. The lower nose gear was fracture-separated from the strut. The nose was crushed up and aft, and the aft fuselage crumpled. Both wings, horizontal and vertical stabilizers sustained crush damage and denting. Propeller tips had significant curling. Examination revealed no pre-impact anomalies with flight controls, and no mechanical problems were reported.