# NTSB ATL02LA073: Cessna 172P, N64079, Pensacola, FL, April 4, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 4, 2002, 17:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Pensacola, FL - Coordinates: 30.398611, -87.348609 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3986&lon=-87.3486&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Birminghan FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54498 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL02LA073 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54498/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54498 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA073 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind and his failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to land with a tailwind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot had been conducting a pleasure flight, which included closed traffic at the private airport. The pilot had attempted several approaches to runway 18 without landing. However, according to the fixed based operator, several failed attempts were made to establish radio contact over the UNICOM frequency with the pilot of the accident airplane. The fixed base operator was concerned about the pilot attempting a landing with a tailwind. The pilot stated that after the second approach and go-around to runway 18 he discovered that the prevailing winds had shifted and favored runway 36. Witnesses saw the airplane on the accident approach to runway 18, and again the pilot appeared to execute a go-around, however, another pilot taxing for takeoff, saw the airplane bounced on the runway, turned to the northwest, touched down on the ground again and collided with a tree. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left and right wing assemblies were damaged and the fuselage also sustained structural damage. The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane prior to the accident. The prevailing winds were 330 degrees at 12 knots at the approximate time of the attempted landing. ## Factual narrative On April 4, 2002, at 1730 central standard time, a Cessna 172P, N64079, registered to Ferguson Aviation, collided the ground during an attempted landing at Ferguson Airport in Pensacola, Florida. 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 flight departed Pensacola, Florida, at 1610, on April 4, 2002. According to the fixed base operator, the pilot had been conducting a pleasure flight, which included closed traffic at the private airport. The pilot had attempted several approaches to runway 18 without landing. However, according to the fixed based operator, several failed attempts were made to establish radio contact over the UNICOM frequency with the pilot of the accident airplane. The fixed base operator was concerned about the pilot attempting a landing with a tail wind. But, the pilot stated that after the second approach and go-around to runway 18 he discovered that the winds had shifted and favored runway 36. At that time, the pilot said, he changed his approach to runway 36. Witnesses saw the airplane on the accident approach to runway 18, and again the pilot appeared to execute a go-around followed by a right turn. The airplane descended behind a tree line. According to a pilot taxing for takeoff, the airplane bounced on the runway, turned to the northwest, touched down on the ground and collided with a tree. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left and right wing assemblies were damaged and the fuselage also sustained structural damage. The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane prior to the accident. The prevailing winds were 330 degrees at 12 knots, at the approximate time of the attempted landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N64079](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N64079), registered now, S/N 17275516, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17275516 - Airframe hours: 5995 - Engines: Avco Lycoming O-320D-2J 160 horsepower - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Anbrey P. Mathis - Registered owner: Charles F. Williams - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 2, 2002, 50 hours before - Departed: 82J, Pensacola, FL - Destination: 82J - Airport: 82J, Feregenson Airport, runway 18, 3,206 × 425 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, invalid medical for flight; seat: left; flight hours: 114 total, 39 in this make and model, 76 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: pns ## 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 20020404007699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020404007699A), Apr 4, 2002: Cessna 172P, Pensacola, FL, No damage. (-23) Pilot while attempting to land, lost control of aircraft and struck trees with left wing on the west side of the runway (36). Substantial damage to left… ## Other investigations on N64079 (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 MIA83LA161](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA83LA161), Jun 18, 1983: Cessna 172P (N64079), Pensacola, FL, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 15, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54498. 396 KB in all. - Pilot Statement (item 1, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423349&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statements (item 2, .PDF, 322 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423350&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF 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.