# Accident 20071117827099A: Cessna 172N, Atwater, CA, November 17, 2007

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 17, 2007, 14:30 local time
- Place: Atwater, CA
- Airport: Castle
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Touch And Go Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: YMOS
- Location: 37.3806° N, 120.5681° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3806&lon=-120.5681&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3318E, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3318E) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172N (registry code 2072434, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 22 total, 22 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA08CA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08CA030) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071117827099A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON 11/17/2007 THE STUDENT PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS CONDUCTING HIS FIRST SOLO FLIGHT AT CASTLE AIRPORT (MER) IN ATWATER, CA WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING HIS SECOND TOUCH-AND-GO MANEUVER AND LANDED ON THE CENTERLINE ON RUNWAY 31 AT APPROXIMATELY 65 KNOTS WHEN HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND BEGAN VEERING TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO BRING THE AIRCRAFT TO THE RIGHT BY APPLYING RIGHT RUDDER, BUT WITH NO SUCCESS, AND THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY AT ABOUT 1500' FROM THE THRESHOLD. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR TIRE WENT DIRECTLY OVER (AND DESTROYED) A RUNWAY LIGHT ON THE PAVED SHOULDER. CONTINUING IN THE FORWARD AND LEFT DIRECTION, THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE 10,000'/2,000 FOOT DISTANCE REMAINING SIGN WITH THE RIGHT WING STRUT. THE AIRCRAFT THEN MADE A DRAMATIC LEFT TURN AND DEPARTED THE 75' PAVED SHOULDER OF THE RUNWAY AND CONTINUED IN THE NORTHWESTERLY, THEN IN A NORTH AND EAST DIRECTION, WHILE TWICE CROSSING A DRAINAGE SWALE AT 250' FROM THE PAVEMENT (TRYING TO RETURN TO THE RUNWAY). THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST WITH THE NOSE POINTED AT THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT WAS TREATED FOR MINOR NECK AND BACK PAINS.

## 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 SEA08CA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08CA030), Nov 17, 2007: Cessna 172N (N3318E), Atwater, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the student pilot to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Factors contributing to the accident included the sign and the ditch.

## Other reports on N3318E (2)

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

- [Incident 20120108000749I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120108000749I), Jan 8, 2012: Cessna 172N (N3318E), Hawthorne, CA, Substantial damage. Airman landed after hours, tower was closed. During taxi to parking, aircraft landing light began turning on and off. Airman reached down to work landing…
- [Accident 19911003044599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911003044599A), Oct 3, 1991: Cessna 172N (N3318E), Palo Alto, CA, Substantial damage. Drifted nose high off runway on takeoff. Stall mushed. Struck trees. Rudder trim 50 percent off neutral.

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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