# NTSB ATL02LA001: Cessna 172, N46085, Goldsboro, NC, October 20, 2001

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 20, 2001, 10:20 local (14:20 UTC)
- Place: Goldsboro, NC
- Coordinates: 35.45639, -77.958885
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4564&lon=-77.9589&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 20, 2002
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Greensboro FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 53686
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL02LA001
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53686/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA001

## Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a touch-and-go landing.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The student pilot completed his third practice landing. According to the student pilot, after touchdown he felt the nosewheel shimmy. As the student pilot added power for a go-around,  the airplane pulled to the left.  The student pilot attempted to correct with rudder, but was unable to keep the airplane from veering into the grass alongside the runway.  The airplane slid into a ditch and rolled over inverted.

## Factual narrative

On October 20, 2001 at 1020 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N46085, registered to and owned by Wayne Aviation slid into a ditch on landing at Goldsboro-Wayne Municipal Airport in Goldsboro, North Carolina.  The instructional flight was operated by a solo student pilot, under the supervision of a flight instructor, and conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91with no flight plan filed.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.  The student pilot was not injured; however, the airplane sustained substantial damage.  The solo flight originated at Goldsboro-Wayne Municipal Airport, in Goldsboro, North Carolina, at 0930.

According to the student pilot, he was making his third practice landing in the traffic pattern when the accident occurred.  He touched down and felt the nosewheel shimmy.  He then added power for a go-around, and the airplane pulled to the left.  The student pilot attempted to correct with rudder, but was unable to keep the airplane from veering into the grass alongside the runway.  The airplane slid into a ditch and flipped inverted.

Examination of the airplane revealed damage to the nose gear and tail section.  In addition, the left wing was bent.  The pilot did not report any malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident. The post-accident examination of the airplane also failed to disclose mechanical malfunction or component failure.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N46085](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N46085), registered now, S/N 17264175, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172
- 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: 17264175
- Airframe hours: 4907
- Engines: Lycoming O-320E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Wayne Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: GWW, Goldsboro, NC
- Airport: GWW, Goldsboro-Wayne Municipal, runway 5, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 999° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observed at: GWW

## 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 20011020028869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011020028869A), Oct 20, 2001: Cessna 172M, Goldsboro, NC, Substantial damage. (-23) Student conducting touch and go landings at home field (gww). On fourth landing, pilot reported mild nosewheel shimmy. He raised the nose briefly and set…

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.

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