# NTSB ATL92LA161: Cessna 172N, N5415J, New Bern, NC, August 18, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 18, 1992, 15:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place: New Bern, NC
- Coordinates: 35.110389, -77.069892 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1104&lon=-77.0699&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 28, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8648
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL92LA161
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8648/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL92LA161

## Probable cause

THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON THE LANDING ROLL. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE AND THE CROSSWIND CONDITIONS AT THE AIRPORT.

## 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 - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, go-around (vfr)
  - terrain condition - ditch

## Analysis

THE 21-HOUR STUDENT PILOT WAS PREPARING TO LAND ON RUNWAY 22. SURFACE WINDS WERE FROM 360 AT 5 KNOTS, AND THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS CRABBING FOR CROSSWINDS. TOUCHDOWN WAS UNEVENTFUL, HOWEVER THE AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE LEFT DURING THE LANDING ROLL. OPPOSITE RUDDER DID NOT CORRECT THE SITUATION, SO HE ELECTED TO GO AROUND. AS HE ATTEMPTED TO GO AROUND, THE LEFT MAIN GEAR ROLLED INTO MUDDY GRASS. THE AIRCRAFT PULLED HARD TO THE LEFT, AND COLLIDED WITH A DRAINAGE DITCH. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED WITH THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT HAD ACCUMULATED 0.8 HOURS AS PILOT-IN-COMMAND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5415J (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17273785
- Airframe hours: 4980
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Air East, Inc.
- Registered owner: Air East, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 21, 1992, 51 hours before
- Departed: EWN
- Destination: EWN
- Airport: EWN, Craven County, runway 22, 4,804 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 21 total, 21 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: EWN, 1 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 19920818032139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920818032139A), Aug 18, 1992: Cessna 172N, New Bern, NC, Substantial damage. Lost control landing in a light crosswind. Ran off 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.

---
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.