Airtime CYGNET N145AT

Summary

On 16 September 2016 at about 20:30 local time, a Airtime CYGNET registered N145AT was involved in an accident near Venice, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 September 2016 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Venice, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Venice Muni (VNC)

Coordinates

27.0711, -82.4408

Aircraft

Airtime CYGNET

Registration

N145AT

Category

Airplane

Year built

2015

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Venice → Venice

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA16CA498

Nobody was injured.

The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in a runway excursion.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor in the amphibious float-equipped, weight-shift aircraft reported that the accident flight was the third flight with the student pilot, and the student pilot's first flight in the front seat. He further reported that during the takeoff roll they "began to [lose] the center line to the left and then to the right." He reported that in this particular aircraft, to turn to the right you push the left pedal and to turn to the left you push the right pedal. He instructed the student pilot to release the throttle. He then attempted to "take the controls back and keep the [aircraft] on the runway", but was unsuccessful. The aircraft veered off the runway to the right, the right float impacted grass, and the aircraft spun 180 degrees. The student pilot reported that he told the flight instructor that he would "follow along with him on the controls during the takeoff to feel how he was moving them". He further reported that when the aircraft veered off the runway to the right, he "took [his] hands off the controls" to allow the flight instructor to correct for the veer. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the right lift strut. The flight instructor reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.