Cessna 172N accident near Manassas, Virginia, July 30, 2009
On July 30, 2009 at about 5:21 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N733BS, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Manassas, Virginia (Manassas Regional Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 30, 2009 · about 5:21 pm local time
- Place
- Manassas, Virginia · Manassas Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N733BS · registry record · serial 17268173
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On his third solo flight, the student pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings on the 3,703-foot-long by 100-foot-wide runway, and he had successfully completed one circuit. His flight instructor, who witnessed the accident, stated that on the second takeoff attempt the aircraft swerved to the left of the runway centerline as both main tires skidded, and the airplane impacted a runway sign. The student pilot continued the takeoff and the airplane became airborne. While the airplane was in the traffic pattern, the engine seized due to damage sustained during the takeoff sequence. The flight instructor provided guidance to maintain airspeed and aircraft control over the radio, and the student pilot subsequently landed without further incident. In his statement, the student pilot explained that the left brake was sticking during his initial takeoff roll; however, examination of the airplane after the accident revealed no mechanical anomalies. The flight instructor reported that the student pilot had been instructed to “abort the takeoff by pulling the throttle to idle and applying the brakes as appropriate” if the takeoff roll was not normal.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
- Loss of engine power (total) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Eng oil sys (airframe furnish) › Quantity › Damaged/degraded
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 16 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,769 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 29, 2009; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Manassas Aviation Center
The flight
- Departed from: HEF Manassas VA at 5:00 pm
- Destination: HEF Manassas VA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 34L, 3,703 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; a few clouds at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from HEF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N733BS the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.