# NTSB ATL04LA018: Cessna 172M, N64255, Sanford, NC, October 16, 2003

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 16, 2003, 13:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place: Sanford, NC
- Coordinates: 35.58361, -79.100555
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5836&lon=-79.1006&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report January 24, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Greensboro FSDO-05
- NTSB case key (mKey): 58164
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04LA018
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58164/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA018

## Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control on landing roll resulting in a collision with a ditch, and subsequent nose over.

## 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
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

The student pilot stated he encountered a gust of wind on landing roll out, and lost directional control of the airplane. The airplane went off the left side of the runway, collided with a ditch, and nosed over. Review of the surface weather observation closest to the airport revealed no wind gusts were reported at the time of the accident.

## Factual narrative

On October 16, 2003, at 1315 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N64255, registered to Sanford Aircraft Services Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, went off the left side of runway 03, collided with a ditch, and nosed over on landing roll out at Sanford Lee County Regional Airport, Sanford, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage. The student pilot reported minor injuries. The flight originated from Stanley County Airport, Albemarle, North Carolina, on October 16, 2003, at 1245.

The student pilot stated he encountered a gust of wind on landing roll out, and he lost directional control of the airplane. The airplane went off the left side of the runway, collided with a ditch, and nosed over.

The nearest weather reporting facility at the time of the accident was Raleigh-Durham International Airport, Raleigh, North Carolina. No wind gusts were being reported at the time of the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N64255](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N64255), registered now, S/N 17265128 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172M
- 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: 17265128
- Airframe hours: 5919
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Sanford Aircraft Services Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 24, 2003, 40 hours before
- Departed: VUJ, Allbemarle, NC
- Destination: TTA, Sanford, NC
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: TTA, Sanford, Lee County, runway 03, 6,500 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 67; injuries: minor; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 79 total, 79 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observed at: RDU, 40 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 20031016025689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031016025689A), Oct 16, 2003: Cessna 172M, Sanford, NC, Substantial damage. (-23) Student pilot was attempting to land on runway 3 at Sanford, NC when he lost control of the aircraft, ran off the left side of the runway into a ditch…

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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