Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Muscle Shoals, Alabama 35661
Friday, May 5, 2006 19:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the student pilot, during his second solo takeoff, he applied full power and just before the airplane started to rotate it made an abrupt hard turn to the left. The student pilot stated that he applied right rudder but it had no effect. He then reduced power to idle while attempting to steer the airplane away from any obstacles. The airplane struck a runway sign, crossed a taxiway, and came to rest behind a row of hangars. Examination of the airplane by an A&P Mechanic found no mechanical problems during the post-accident examination.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff roll.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/5/2006
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1900
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Muscle Shoals
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 35661
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 344117N
Event Location Longitude 0873906W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport --
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1853 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID MSL
Elevation of weather observation facility 535
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 8000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2300
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.96
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 20296
NTSB Notification Source FAA Com Center
NTSB Notification Date May 5 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Oct 3 2006 2:46PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Birmingham FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N613SP
NTSB Number ATL06CA075
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model C172S
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 172S8597
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jan 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 84
Airframe Hours 1469
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Nowthwest Alabama Regional Airport Authority
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1729 T Ed Campbell Dr STE A
Aircraft Owner City Muscle Shoals
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 35661
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Ricky Van South
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 190 County Rd. 28
Operator City Florence
Operator State AL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 35634
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code MSL
Departure City Muscle Shoals
Departure State AL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1900
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code MSL
Destination City Muscle Shoals
Destination State AL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - roll/run
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 27 2006 3:53PM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --