Buffalo-Lancaster Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lancaster, New York 14086
Thursday, January 1, 2009 9:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The student pilot was conducting his first solo flight and had performed two uneventful stop-and-go landings. As the airplane accelerated during the third takeoff, it began to veer to the left. The student pilot applied right rudder; however, the airplane contacted a snow bank located off the left side of the runway and nosed over, substantially damaging the airplane. The student pilot stated that the winds were calm and the ailerons were in a neutral position during the takeoff. He did not report any mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the student pilot's lack of solo flight experience and the snow bank located off the left side of the runway.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/1/2009
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 930
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Lancaster
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 14086
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 425519N
Event Location Longitude 0783646W
Event Location Airport Buffalo-Lancaster Regional
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BQR
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 750
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 954 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 280
Weather Observation Facility ID BUF
Elevation of weather observation facility 728
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Bright
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2300
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.35
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) 24991
NTSB Notification Source NTSB Communication Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 12 2009 11:35AM
User who most recently changed record grol
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2228L
NTSB Number ERA09CA119
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172SP
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 172S10027
Certified Max Gross Weight 2048
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 Dec 16 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 1017
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Miosi Aviation, Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City CLARENCE
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 14031-2429
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Bob Miller Flight Training, Inc.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Lancaster
Operator State NY
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 14086
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 BQR
Departure City Lancaster
Departure State NY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 930
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code BQR
Destination City Lancaster
Destination State NY
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 30 2009 9:25AM
User who most recently changed record muzd
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 26
Runway Length 3200
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --