# NTSB ATL00LA052: Cessna 172M, N13330, Clinton, TN, April 30, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 30, 2000, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Clinton, TN - Coordinates: 36.090515, -84.129875 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0905&lon=-84.1299&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 18, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49113 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL00LA052 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49113/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL00LA052 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning necessitating an intentional ground loop maneuver on landing. Contributing factors were the pilot's misjudgment of distance/airspeed, the high terrain surrounding the runway, and the tailwind condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - distance/speed - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor) - ground loop/swerve - intentional, pilot in command ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was returning to the 1300-foot sod airstrip after refueling at a nearby airport. According to the pilot, he maintained a final approach airspeed of 80 to 85 knots. After completing the before landing checklist, which included lowering wing flaps and applying carburetor heat, the pilot realized that the landing approach had a tailwind component. The pilot reported that as he continued the approach, the airspeed was too high and he did not feel that the airplane had sufficient engine power to clear the lake and higher terrain beyond the end of the runway. He elected to land long on the runway and ground looped the airplane to avoid an embankment and a lake on the departure end of the runway. An eyewitness stated that the airplane was fast and long over the runway for the landing. Examination of the accident site showed that the airplane had rotated 180 degrees on the ground and was facing the opposite landing direction. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On April 30, 2000, at 1530 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N13330, collided with the ground during an attempted landing on a private airstrip in Clinton, Tennessee. The personal flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The local flight departed Clinton, Tennessee, at 1430. The pilot reported that he was returning to the 1300 foot sod airstrip in Clinton after refueling at a nearby airport. According to the pilot, he maintained a final approach airspeed of 80 to 85 knots. After completing a before landing checklist, which included lowering wing flaps and applying carburetor heat, the pilot realized that the landing approach had a tailwind component. As the pilot continued the approach, the pilot said that the airspeed was too high for the approach and he did not feel that the airplane had sufficient engine power to clear the lake and higher terrain beyond the end of the runway. He elected to land long on the runway and ground looped the airplane to avoid an embankment and a lake on the departure end of the runway. An eyewitness stated that the airplane was fast and long over the runway for the landing. Examination of the accident site showed that the airplane had rotated 180 degrees on the ground and was facing the opposite landing direction. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N13330](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N13330), registered now, S/N 17262674, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172-62674 - Airframe hours: 3481 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Terry L. Mullins - Registered owner: Mullins Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 28, 2000, 1 hours before - Airport: NONE, Mullins Field, runway 33, 1,300 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 426 total, 31 in this make and model, 248 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TYS, 30 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20000430020449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000430020449A), Apr 30, 2000: Cessna 172M, Clinton, TN, Substantial damage. (.4)After landing, the pilot ground looped the airplane. An eyewitness stated that the airplane was fast and long over the runway for the landing. Examination… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.