# NTSB ATL90LA160: Cessna 172P, N5354Q, Lawrencevile, GA, August 19, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 19, 1990, 15:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place: Lawrencevile, GA
- Location: 33.9781° N, 83.9624° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at GWINNETT COUNTY/BRISCOE FLD (LZU), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9781&lon=-83.9624&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 15, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8264
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL90LA160
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8264/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL90LA160

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL.

## 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)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, other
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE IN CRUISE AT 7500 FEET MSL. THE PILOT SWITCHED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT MAIN TANK, ATTEMPTED RESTART WITHOUT SUCCESS AND WAS COMMITTED TO A FORCED LANDING. DURING ROLLOUT ON SOFT TERRAIN, THE AIRPLANE PITCHED FORWARD ON THE NOSE WHEEL AND LEFT WINGTIP TO AN INVERTED POSTION, RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PASSENGER REPORTED NO INJURY; THE PILOT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURY. THE LEFT AUXILIARY TANK AND RIGHT MAIN TANK CONTAINED FUEL; THE LEFT MAIN TANK WAS EMPTY UPON INSPECTION. TEST AFFIRMED TRANSFER AND ENGINE OPERATION GIVEN FUEL. NO MECHANICAL DISCREPANCY WAS FOUND TO ACCOUNT FOR POWER LOSS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5354Q (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17274776
- Airframe hours: 3689
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Air Center Gwinnett Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 14, 1990, 10 hours before
- Departed: LZU
- Airport: LZU, Gwinnett County, runway 25, 4,012 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 21; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 79 total, 10 in this make and model, 38 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FTY, 30 nm away

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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