# NTSB ATL03LA024: Cessna 172N, N5891E, Cartersville, GA, December 6, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 6, 2002, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Cartersville, GA - Coordinates: 34.125, -84.848609 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1250&lon=-84.8486&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Atlanta FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56181 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL03LA024 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56181/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03LA024 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control, during the landing roll resulted in the on ground collision with a ravine. ## Analysis While attempting a full stop landing, the student pilot flared left of the runway centerline, touched down on the runway and rolled approximately 50 yards into a ravine. The student pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane prior to impact. ## Factual narrative On December 6, 2002, at 1430 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172N, N5891E, registered to a private owner and operated by a student pilot, lost directional control during landing and nosed over into a ravine at Cartersville Airport, Cartersville, Georgia. The instructional flight was operated under the provision of Title 14 CFR Part 91 and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the student pilot was not injured. The flight departed McCollum Field, Marietta, Georgia on December 6, 2002 at 1400. According to the student pilot he was conducting full-stop landings. During the second landing the pilot flared the airplane left of the centerline. When the nose wheel touched down on runway 19 the airplane veered off the left side of the runway. In an attempt to regain control of the airplane the pilot pulled back on the control yoke, and added power. The airplane traveled approximately 50 yards off the runway, nosed over in a ravine, and came to rest inverted. Examination of the airplane revealed the nose wheel separated from the nose strut. Both wings were buckled on the upper surface of the wing and had stringer damage. The fuselage was buckled under the cabin. Examination of the nose gear steering tube assemblies revealed continuity from the rudder peddles to the nose gear. When rudder pedal input was entered the nose gear steering tube assemblies operated properly. No mechanical or flight control problems were reported by the student pilot before the accident. Review of the students pilot's logbook revealed .6 hours of solo hours in type of airplane, and 21 hours of total time. ## 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 (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ravine (contributing factor) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5891E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5891E-2008-10-23), registration cancelled 2008-10-23, S/N 17271953, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17271953 - Airframe hours: 5456 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-L2AD 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Edward W. Fogarty - Registered owner: Micheal Oneal - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 6, 2002 - Departed: RYY, MARIETTA, GA - Destination: VPC, CARTERSVILLE, GA - Airport: VPC, Cartersville, runway 19, 5,760 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 21 total, 21 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 9 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.27 inHg - Observed at: KMGE, 20 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 20021206034169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021206034169A), Dec 6, 2002: Cessna 172N, Cartersville, GA, Substantial damage. (-23) On 12/6/02 at about 1430 hours while attempting to land on runway one north, pilot stated after touching down the mlg's, he attempted to touch down and… 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.