Mount Sterling Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mount Sterling, Kentucky 40353
Saturday, March 6, 2010 15:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The accident flight was the student pilot’s first solo cross-country flight, and she planned to perform a touch-and-go before proceeding to the next intended destination. The landing proceeded uneventfully, but when the pilot applied engine power for takeoff, the airplane began turning to the left. The pilot attempted to correct by increasing right rudder, but the airplane continued left and departed the side of the runway. The airplane proceeded through the grass adjacent to the runway, across the taxiway, and into the grass again before the pilot decreased the engine power. As the airplane slowed, the nose landing gear dug into the ground before it separated, resulting in substantial damage to the firewall area. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane and that the wind velocity at the time of the accident was 4 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during a touch-and-go.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/6/2010
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Mount Sterling
Event State KENTUCKY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 40353
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 380329N
Event Location Longitude 0835847W
Event Location Airport Mount Sterling Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID IOB
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1019
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1454 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID LEX
Elevation of weather observation facility 979
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 29
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.34
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) 26833
NTSB Notification Source FAA Louisville FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 11 2010 11:03AM
User who most recently changed record broda
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N365DC
NTSB Number ERA10CA173
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name DIAMOND AIRCRAFT IND INC
Aircraft Model DA 20-C1
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number C0462
Certified Max Gross Weight 1764
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Feb 9 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 811
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name AIR 51 RICHMOND LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3422 OLD CAPITOL TRL STE 700
Aircraft Owner City WILMINGTON
Aircraft Owner State DE
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19808-6124
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name AIR 51 RICHMOND LLC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 3422 OLD CAPITOL TRL STE 700
Operator City WILMINGTON
Operator State DE
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 19808-6124
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 IOB
Departure City Mount Sterling
Departure State KY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1500
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code LOZ
Destination City London
Destination State KY
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 14 2010 12:19PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 03
Runway Length 5002
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --