# NTSB ATL93LA073: Cessna 172, N70397, Greenville, TN, April 15, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 15, 1993, 14:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Greenville, TN - Coordinates: 36.069828, -82.860954 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0698&lon=-82.8610&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 30, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3198 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL93LA073 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3198/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL93LA073 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper procedures in that he landed with excessive flap extension, and his inadequate compensation for the gusting crosswind. ## 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 - procedures/directives - improper, pilot in command (cause) - lowering of flaps - improper, pilot in command (cause) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr) ## Analysis BECAUSE OF A STRONG WIND GUST DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE BALLOONED BACK INTO THE AIR, & DRIFTED OFF TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT TRIED TO ABORT THE LANDING BY ADDING POWER & APPLYING FULL LEFT RUDDER & AILERON. HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE HIT THE GROUND, WHICH BROKE OFF THE NOSE GEAR. IT THEN CONTINUED & COLLIDED WITH THE AIRPORT PERIMETER FENCE. THE PILOT STATED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS. HE ALSO STATED THAT HE LANDED THE AIRPLANE WITH THE FLAPS FULLY EXTENDED. HE HAD ASKED FOR ADVISORIES ON UNICOM BUT COULD NOT UNDERSTAND THE RESPONSE. THE RUNWAY WAS OVERFLOWN & HE NOTED THAT THE WIND SOCK WAS STRAIGHT OUT, & PARALLEL TO RUNWAY 23. A CESSNA 172 PILOT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK INDICATES THAT MINIMUM FLAPS, CONSISTENT WITH RUNWAY LENGTH, SHOULD BE USED FOR LANDINGS IN STRONG CROSSWINDS. ## Factual narrative On April 15, 1993, at about 1415 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N70397, collided with a fence during landing at Greenville, Tennessee. The airplane was operated by the pilot under 14 CFR Part 91 and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan was not filed for the business flight. There were no injuries to the commercial pilot, while the airplane was substantially damaged. Origination of the flight was Charlotte, North Carolina, at about 1300. The pilot reported that he landed with the flaps fully extended. Wind conditions were gusty. The Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) at Greenville, at 1420, indicated that the winds were from 150 degrees at 11 knots, with gusts to 22 knots. The pilot reported that he observed the wind sock during the entry to the landing pattern standing straight out, and favoring runway 23. On landing, the pilot said, the airplane ballooned up, was shifted laterally by the wind, and he lost directional control. The airplane ran through a perimeter fence and down a hill. According to the pilot, there were no mechanical malfunctions. The Pilot's Operating Handbook for a like make and model airplane states that landings in strong crosswinds should be made with the minimum flaps required for the runway length. Runway 23 was 6,302 feet long. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N70397](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N70397-2014-12-22), registration cancelled 2014-12-22, S/N 17267213, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 - 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: 17267213 - Airframe hours: 1610 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: W.A. Anderson Enterprises - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 15, 1993, 6 hours before - Departed: CLT, CHARLOTTE, NC - Airport: GCY, Greenville Municipal, runway 23, 6,302 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,975 total, 1,170 in this make and model, 1,888 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 11 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: GCY ## 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 19930415009419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930415009419A), Apr 15, 1993: Cessna 172M, Greenville, TN, Substantial damage. Landed in excessive gusty crosswind ran off runway downhill and thru a fence. Exceeded crosswind component. 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.