# Accident 20031012025929A: Cessna 172P, Pell City, AL, October 12, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 12, 2003, 10:45 local time
- Place: Pell City, AL
- Airport: St Clair County Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.5639° N, 86.2472° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5639&lon=-86.2472&mi=10
- Aircraft: N52254, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N52254-2007-03-29) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172P (registry code 2072436, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Reported engine: LYC O320*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 41 total, 41 in this make and model, 13 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL04LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA013) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031012025929A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON OCTOBER 12, 2003, AT 1045 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA 172P, N52254, REGISTERED TO A PRIVATE OWNER, OPERATING AS A 14 CFR 91 INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING FLARE AT SAINT CLAIR COUNTY AIRPORT, PELL CITY, ALABAMA, AND COLLIDED WITH A TREE. THE AIRPLANE RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE STUDENT PILOT STATED HE WAS MAKING A CROSSWIND LANDING ON RUNWAY 02. DURING THE LANDING FLARE, THE STUDENT PILOT REMOVED THE CROSSWIND CORRECTION AND THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED TO THE LEFT OFF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A TREE. THE STARBOARD WING RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL STRUCTURAL DAMAGE AND THE FIREWALL INCLUDING THE FORWARD SECTION OF THE COCKPIT WAS DAMAGED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ATL04LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA013), Oct 12, 2003: Cessna 172P (N52254), Pell City, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind and his failure to maintain directional control during landing. A factor was the crosswind.

## Other reports on N52254 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20000523016819I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000523016819I), May 23, 2000: Cessna 172P (N52254), Alabaster, AL, Minor damage. (-23)PIC reported while on a photography flight departed Shelby County Airport (21A) on may 23,2000, at 1000L, the aircraft windshield broke approximately one…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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