Probable cause
Pilot's inadequate control of the airplane during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion.
NTSB analysis
According to the pilot, he landed the airplane on the centerline of the runway and the airplane began to veer to the left. He applied right rudder pressure; however, the airplane continued to the left. It traveled off the left side of the runway and came to rest inverted in a ditch, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. The pilot indicated that the left brake "locked up" during the accident sequence. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that there were no malfunctions or anomalies with the brake system that would have precluded normal operation prior to the accident.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA15CA106 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jan 16, 2015
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- New Castle, Pennsylvania
- Nearest airport
- New Castle Airport (KUCP)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172L
- N-number
- N7079Q
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1972
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.