- Date
- January 13, 2002, 09:15 local (14:15 UTC)
- Place
- Sanford, NC
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N9334HCessna 172M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 20, 2002
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20020113001769A
- Case key
- 54049
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilots failure to maintain directional control during landing roll that resulted in a collision with an airport sign. Factors were wet runway surface and wind gust.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported experiencing a wind gust on landing. The pilot stated that when the airplane touched down, the nose of the airplane went to the right. The airplane then started to skid to right. The airplane continued off the runway and collided with an airport sign. Examination of the airplane failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction.
Factual narrative
On January 13, 2002, at 0915 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172M, N9334H, operated by a private pilot, under the provisions of Title 14 CFR part 91, experienced a wind gust on landing. The personnel flight at Sanford Lee County Airport, Sanford, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The private pilot and his passengers did not received any injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight departed Sanford Lee County Airport, inSanford, North Carolina, at 0915.
According to the pilot, he experience a strong crosswind from the right while on approach for runway 21. The pilot stated that he was crabbed about 25 degrees toward the runway, at 85 knots abeam the numbers. The pilot stated that when he turned final he added his third notch of flaps and trimmed the airplane to 70 knots. The pilot stated when he was certain he could make the field he added the last notch of flaps. The pilot stated that when the airplane touched down, the nose of the airplane went to the right. The airplane then started a right skid. The pilot stated that the airplane "tipped to the left" and he lost directional control. The airplane skidded off of the right side of the runway, and collided with a runway sign.
Examination of the airplane revealed, the left main landing gear collapsed.The left stabilizer was damaged and a hole was punctured in the right stabilizer. The examination of the airplane failed to reveal a mechanical problem. According to the pilot, the runway surface was wet from rain the previous night. The reported winds at the time of the accident were 290 degrees at 10 knots with gust to 18 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9334H
- Reported as
- Cessna 172M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 66092
- Airframe hours
- 4,980
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 7, 2001 · 14 hours before
- Departed
- KTTA · Sanford, NC
- Airport
- W77 · Sanford Lee County Regional, runway 21, 4,300 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 160 total · 60 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 10 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 43 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.89 inHg
- Observed at
- RDU, 37 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 28, 2002, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 649 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.