# Accident 20231217021639A: Cessna 172N, Stephenville, TX, December 17, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 17, 2023, 10:56 local time
- Place: Stephenville, TX
- Airport: Clark Regional Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.2306° N, 98.1733° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2306&lon=-98.1733&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4501E, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4501E) (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: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 41 total, 4 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN24LA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA071) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231217021639A

## Narrative

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

THIS STUDENT PILOT WAS PRACTICING CROSS WIND LANDINGS AT SEP RUNWAY 14.  THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED A SOUTHWEST CROSSWIND. THE WIND WAS SKIDDING THE AIRPLANE SIDEWAYS SO HE TRIED CORRECTING FOR IT. HE OVER-CORRECTED THE RUDDER TO COUNTER THE WIND AND LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND VEERED TO THE RIGHT GOING SOUTHWEST. THE AIRCRAFT WENT DOWN IN THE DRAINAGE DITCH BETWEEN THE RUNWAY AND TAXIWAY THEN WENT UP THE OTHER SIDE. THE LEFT WINGTIP HIT THE GROUND IN THE LOWEST PART OF THE DITCH. AS THE AIRCRAFT WENT UP THE OTHER SIDE, THE NOSE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED WHERE IT CAME TO REST.

## 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 CEN24LA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA071), Dec 17, 2023: Cessna 172N (N4501E), Stephenville, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing that resulted in an impact with terrain.

## Other reports on N4501E (1)

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

- [Incident 19850428019599I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850428019599I), Apr 28, 1985: Cessna 172N (N4501E), Angleton, TX, Minor damage. Student lost control of aircraft in rotor wash of large helicopter. Instructor to be reexamined.

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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