# Accident 20091010022209A: Cessna 172M, Tucson, AZ, October 10, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 10, 2009, 10:35 local time
- Place: Tucson, AZ
- Airport: Tucson International
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.1158° N, 110.9408° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1158&lon=-110.9408&mi=10
- Aircraft: N51302, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51302-2017-03-03) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172M (registry code 2072418, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Reported engine: LYC O320*
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 100 total, 100 in this make and model, 13 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR10CA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA013) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091010022209A

## Narrative

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

MR. MATTHEW HENKEL WAS PERFORMING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS.  THE POWER WAS AT IDLE AND THE FLAPS WERE SET TO 30 DEGREES.  DURING ONE OF THE LANDINGS HE STATED THE AIRCRAFT VEERED LEFT.  HE ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO CONTINUE TO THE LEFT MAKING VERY SMALL CORRECTIONS.  HE STATES HE DID NOT WANT TO MAKE ANY SUDDEN OR LARGE CONTROL INPUTS AND CAUSE THE AIRCRAFT TO GROUND LOOP OR FLIP OVER.  HE TRIED TO STEER THE AIRCRAFT TO KEEP FROM HITTING ANY TAXI LIGHTS OR TAXI WAY SIGNS.  THE AIRCRAFT MAIN GEAR MISSED THE TAXI WAY SIGN, BUT THE RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER STRUCK THE SIGN.  THIS CONTACT ALSO CAUSED THE SKIN ON THE FUSELAGE TO BEND AND WRINKLE JUST FORWARD OF THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER.  THE PILOT RECEIVED HIS PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE IN APRIL OF 2009, AND HAS A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 100 HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME.  THE PILOT STATED THERE WAS A SLIGHT SHIMMY IN THE NOSEWHEEL OF THAT AIRCRAFT, BUT SAID THAT ALWAYS SHIMMIED, AND HE DIDN'T FEEL IT WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.  INVESTIGATON OF THE AIRCRAFT FOUND NO MECHANICAL IRREGULARITIES THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED IT TO SUDDENLY VEER LEFT.  A 44709 RE-EXAMINATION WILL BE ISSUED.

## 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 WPR10CA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA013), Oct 10, 2009: Cessna 172H (N51302), Tucson, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff ground roll.

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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