# Accident 20230417003659A: Cessna 172S, Fredericksburg, TX, April 17, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 17, 2023, 09:45 local time
- Place: Fredericksburg, TX
- Airport: Gillespie County
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.1435° N, 98.5433° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1435&lon=-98.5433&mi=10
- Aircraft: N478SP, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N478SP) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172S (registry code 2072439, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 SER A&C (registry code 41511, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S
- Reported engine: LYCOMING I0360 SER A&C
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 186 total, 82 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN23LA159](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA159) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230417003659A

## Narrative

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

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND AT T82 UNDER VFR CONDITIONS WITH CLEAR SKIES AND CALM WINDS A TEARDROP ENTRY INTO DOWNWIND RUNWAY 32 WAS MADE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND, IT WAS NOTICED THAT A TAIL WIND WAS MAKING IT HARDER TO REDUCE SPEED ON SHORT FINAL. WHEN IT LOOKED LIKE THE LANDING WOULD BE LONGER THAN INTENDED, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A GO-AROUND BY ADDING FULL POWER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WASN'T ENOUGH LIFT AND THE AIRCRAFT PORPOISED AND THEN THE NOSE WHEEL HIT THE GROUND AND THE AIRCRAFT EXITED THE RUNWAY AND TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 80 FEET INTO THE GRASS. THE AIRCRAFT EXITED THE RUNWAY APPROXIMATELY 1,180 FEET FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY ON THE SOUTHSIDE OF 32. THE AIRCRAFT NOSE GEAR WAS PUSHED THROUGH THE ENGINE/COCKPIT FIREWALL AND DISPLACED THE RUDDER PEDALS. THERE WAS ALSO DAMAGE ON THE EXTERNAL NOSE FAIRINGS OF THE AIRCRAFT AND THE PROPELLERS WERE BENT AFT WITH GROUND IMPACT MARKINGS. NO INJURIES TO PILOT. NO REPORTED MECHANICAL ISSUES.

## 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 CEN23LA159](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA159), Apr 17, 2023: Cessna 172S (N478SP), Fredericksburg, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during an attempted go-around resulting in abnormal contact with the runway pavement and a runway excursion.

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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