Airtime Aircraft INC CYGNET accident near Venice, Florida, September 16, 2016
On September 16, 2016 at about 8:30 pm local time, a 2015 Airtime Aircraft INC CYGNET, registered N145AT, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Venice, Florida (Venice Muni airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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 the takeoff roll and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 16, 2016 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Venice, Florida · Venice Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Airtime Aircraft INC CYGNET NO SERIES, built 2015 · all CYGNETs on the register
- Registration
- N145AT · registry record · serial 0101
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- 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/instructed pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 2.5 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: sport pilot
- Flight time: 402 hours in all; 356 in this make and model; 239 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 21, 2015
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 200 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 13, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 1,430 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 ULS (piston); 200 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VNC Venice FL at 8:30 pm
- Destination: VNC Venice FL
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 23, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 8:35 pm from KVNC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.
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.