# NTSB ATL04LA013: Cessna 172P, N52254, Pell City, AL, October 12, 2003

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 12, 2003, 10:45 local (15:45 UTC)
- Place: Pell City, AL
- Coordinates: 33.563888, -86.247222
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5639&lon=-86.2472&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 28, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Birmingham FSDO-09
- NTSB case key (mKey): 58136
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04LA013
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58136/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA013

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind and his failure to maintain directional control during landing. A factor was the crosswind.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

The student pilot stated that he was making a crosswind touch and go landing on runway 02. During the landing flare, the student pilot removed the crosswind correction, the student pilot lost directional control, the airplane drifted to the left above the runway, and collided with a tree. One wing received structural damage and the firewall was buckled.

## Factual narrative

On October 12, 2003, at 1045 central daylight time, a Cessna 172P, N52254, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, had a loss of directional control during landing flare at Saint Clair County Airport, Pell City, Alabama, and collided with a tree. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage. The student pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated from the Saint Clair Airport Pell City, Alabama, on October 12, 2003, at 0940.

The student pilot stated he was making a crosswind touch and go landing on runway 02. During the landing flare, the student pilot removed the crosswind correction and the airplane drifted to the left above the runway, and collided with a tree. One wing received structural damage and the firewall was buckled.

Review of the Cessna Skyhawk Information Manual Performance Specifications indicates that the stall speed (KCAS) with flaps up power off is 51 knots. The stall speed with flaps down (KCAS) is 46 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N52254](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N52254-2007-03-29), registration cancelled 2007-03-29, S/N 17274462, built 1980 (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: 17274462
- Airframe hours: 9147
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: John L. Fallis
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 16, 2003, 27 hours before
- Departed: PLR, Pell City, AL
- Airport: PLR, Saint Clair Airport, runway 02, 5,002 × 80 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 48; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 41 total, 41 in this make and model, 10 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observed at: ANB, 34 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 20031012025929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031012025929A), Oct 12, 2003: Cessna 172P, Pell City, AL, Substantial damage. (-23) On October 12, 2003, at 1045 central daylight time, a Cessna 172P, N52254, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR 91 instructional flight,…

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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