Textron 172S N838ER

Summary

On 15 March 2024 at about 20:05 local time, a Textron 172S registered N838ER, operated by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Inc, was involved in an accident near Melbourne, Florida, United States. One person was 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

15 March 2024 at 20:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Melbourne, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Melbourne Orlando Internationa (MLB)

Coordinates

28.0979, -80.6353

Aircraft

Textron 172S

Registration

N838ER

Category

Airplane

Year built

2023

Engines

1

Operator

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Daytona Beach → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA24LA145

Nobody was injured.

The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing in a crosswind.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The student pilot was on the first leg of his initial solo cross-country flight. He was initially cleared for an approach to runway 9R at the destination airport, with a surface wind reported from 110° at 13 knots. After reporting a 7-mile final for runway 9R, tower controller directed him to land on runway 5. During landing, as the nose wheel touched down, the airplane “weathervaned” to the right. He abruptly added left rudder, which resulted in the airplane’s wheels “side drift[ing]” to the right and he lost control of the airplane. The airplane departed the runway to the right, eventually coming to rest in a grassy area adjacent to the runway. The right wing and upper fuselage were substantially damaged during the runway excursion. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Following the accident, the flight school that operated the airplane reminded its students that when they are switched from a runway with a headwind to one with a crosswind, it is acceptable to decline an air traffic control request if students are uncomfortable with it.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.