Waupaca Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Waupaca, Wisconsin 54981
Monday, March 15, 2010 14:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The student pilot reported that he rotated about 60 knots to a nose-up attitude during takeoff. He said that the left wing raised “abruptly” due to a wind gust and that he overcorrected with left aileron and “set the plane back down on the runway.” The airplane was then heading for the edge of the runway and the pilot reduced the airplane throttle. The airplane exited the runway, including its safety area, and nosed over in a plowed field. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident flight.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control while taking off in gusting winds.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/15/2010
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1445
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Waupaca
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 54981
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 441959N
Event Location Longitude 0890111W
Event Location Airport Waupaca Municipal Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PCZ
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 840
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1438 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID PCZ
Elevation of weather observation facility 840
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
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) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
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) 30.16
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KPCZ 151938Z AUTO 03004KT 10SM CLR 17/00 A3016
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) 26870
NTSB Notification Source FAA-AGL-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 29 2010 10:54AM
User who most recently changed record broda
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1472U
NTSB Number CEN10CA158
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172M
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17267139
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 18 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 7762.4
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91-A
Aircraft Owner Name RIVERSIDE AVIATION INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2601 RUNWAY DR
Aircraft Owner City WAUPACA
Aircraft Owner State WI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 54981-8861
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name RIVERSIDE AVIATION INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 2601 RUNWAY DR
Operator City WAUPACA
Operator State WI
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 54981-8861
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 PCZ
Departure City Waupaca
Departure State WI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1420
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code PCZ
Destination City Waupaca
Destination State WI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 29 2010 4:26PM
User who most recently changed record male
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 10
Runway Length 5200
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --