# Accident 20210919021229A: Cessna 172N, Grass Valley, CA, September 19, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 19, 2021, 15:30 local time
- Place: Grass Valley, CA
- Airport: Nevada County Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.2241° N, 121.0025° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2241&lon=-121.0025&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4977G, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4977G-2022-07-30) (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
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 275 total, 275 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR21LA348](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA348) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210919021229A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT WAS ON HIS FIRST FLIGHT OF THE DAY PERFORMING PATTERN WORK. THE PILOT MENTIONED ON AN INTERVIEW BY PHONE ON NOVEMBER 10, 2021 AT APPROXIMATELY 3:15 P.M. PDT, THAT HE WAS ON DOWNWIND WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE AIRCRAFTS ALTERNATOR WAS NOT CHARGING THE BATTERY. THE PILOT SAID THE RADIO STOPPED WORKING AND HE GOT DISTRACTED. HE SAID THAT HE MADE A LONG TURN TO FINAL. THE PILOT MENTIONED THAT HE LANDED LONG TOWARDS THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED OFF THE RUNWAY INTO THE DIRT. THE AIRCRAFT ENDED UP IN A DITCH ON ITS RIGHT SIDE CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO ITS RIGHT WING. SIGNATURES OF THE PROPELLER AS WELL AS THE INTERVIEW WITH THE PILOT INDICATE THAT THE ENGINE WAS OPERATING AT A LOW IDLE WHEN IT IMPACTED THE DITCH. THERE WAS NO FURTHER DAMAGE REVEALED.

## 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 WPR21LA348](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA348), Sep 19, 2021: Cessna 172N (N4977G), Grass Valley, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to attain a proper touchdown point on the runway while landing in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a runway overrun. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s…

## Other reports on N4977G (1)

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

- [Incident 19990812035029I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990812035029I), Aug 12, 1999: Cessna 172N (N4977G), Concord, CA, Minor damage. (-23) On landing rollout, the PIC bruce king overcompensated for the wind and departed runway 19L. No injuries to the sole occupant. Damage to aircraft limited…

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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