Probable cause
The flight instructor’s loss of directional control after an aerodynamic stall at takeoff.
NTSB analysis
The flight instructor was demonstrating a soft field takeoff maneuver with 10° of flaps. After lift-off, the airplane “suddenly” and immediately yawed to its left. Both the angle of attack indicator and the stall warning horn provided audible alerts as the pitch attitude exceeded 10° on the primary flight display. The airplane rolled left, right, and left again before it touched down, transitioned a grass area, and came to rest upright on a taxiway. The pilots egressed the airplane unhurt and discovered substantial damage to the left wing.
The flight crew reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the performance and handling of the airplane.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA21LA311 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jul 31, 2021
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Martinsburg, West Virginia
- Nearest airport
- Eastern Wv Rgnl/Shepherd Fld (MRB)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172
- N-number
- N805CP
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2021
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
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.