Socata TB-9 accident near Daytona Beach, Florida, January 22, 1997
On January 22, 1997 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Socata TB-9, registered N121ER, was substantially damaged in an accident near Daytona Beach, Florida (Daytona Beach Intl 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 direction control of the airplane during takeoff. The crosswind was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 22, 1997 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Daytona Beach, Florida · Daytona Beach Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Socata TB-9 · all TB-9s on the register
- Registration
- N121ER · registry record · serial 1510
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On takeoff from runway 25L the airplane departed the left side of the runway, and collided with a runway marker sign. The pilot stated that he added full power, and as power was added the airplane started turning to the left. He said he slowly applied right rudder to correct for the 'left pulling force.' As he gained airspeed, the 'left force' was 'increasing.' The wind was coming from his 'left...south,' but he did not know the speed. He than applied right rudder, but he could not get the airplane to go straight and maintain runway centerline. The airplane countinued to the left, and the pilot elected to abort the takeoff. He stated, '...I was traveling at about 40-45 knots when [I] applied brake pressure. I felt the right side of the aircraft, what felt like lift off the ground. I feared I would flip the plane.' When he released the brakes, the airplane departed the hard surface of the runway onto the grass, and struck a runway sign before stopping. This was the student pilot's first solo flight, and he had no experience with crosswind takeoff procedure. Local weather at the time of the accident, reported that the wind was from 160 degrees, at 9 knots, with wind gusts to 17 knots
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
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 27 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,281 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 14, 1996; 61 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,337 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DAB at 3:36 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25L, 3,197 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 9 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:36 pm from DAB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.