# NTSB ATL93LA100: Cessna 172, N64206, Tuskegee, AL, June 2, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 1, 1993, 21:00 local (Jun 2, 1993, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: Tuskegee, AL
- Coordinates: 32.390346, -85.680656 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3903&lon=-85.6807&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 2, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3218
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL93LA100
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3218/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL93LA100

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ESTABLISH A FINAL  APPROACH COURSE TO THE RUNWAY SURFACE  DURING A NIGHT LANDING. A FACTOR WAS THE INOPERATIVE AIRCRAFT LANDING LIGHT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
  - landing light(s) - inoperative (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, WHILE ON APPROACH  TO THE DIMLY LIGHTED RUNWAY, HE DISCOVERED  THAT THE AIRCRAFT LANDING  LIGHT WOULD NOT  COME ON. HIS RESEARCH OF THE PROBLEM DISCLOSED  THAT THE LANDING LIGHT CIRCUIT BREAKER HAD  POPPED, BUT AFTER RESETTING THE BREAKER,  THE LANDING LIGHT STILL FAILED TO OPERATE.  THE PILOT ELECTED TO CONTINUE THE APPROACH TO A LIGHTED AREA ON THE AIRPORT.  THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN IN THE GRASS  BETWEEN THE RUNWAY AND TAXIWAY, AND COLLIDED  WITH A DEPRESSION IN THE GRASSY AREA.

## Factual narrative

On June 1, 1993, at 2100 central daylight time, a Cessna 172, N64206, collided with the ground during a night landing at the Tuskegee Municipal Airport, Tuskegee, Alabama. The flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the two occupants were not injured. The local flight departed Tuskegee, at 1940 hours.

According to the pilot, he experienced some difficulty identifying the runway with the dimmed lights, and lined up on final between the taxiway and runway. Additionally, the pilot experienced a malfunction of the aircraft landing light. The airplane touched down between the runway and taxiway, and during rollout the airplane collided with a depression in the grassy area. No other mechanical problems were reported.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N64206](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N64206-1996-07-12), registration cancelled 1996-07-12, S/N 17265087 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17265087
- Airframe hours: 2950
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Air Tuskegee Limited
- Registered owner: Sale Reported
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 7, 1993, 50 hours before
- Departed: 06A
- Destination: 06A
- Airport: 06A, Tuskegee Municipal, runway 31, 5,003 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 119 total, 80 in this make and model, 46 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: AUO, 19 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 19930601016099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930601016099A), Jun 1, 1993: Cessna 172M, Tuskegee, AL, Substantial damage. Difficulty locating runway with dim runway lights and inoperative landing light. Landed between runway and taxiway.

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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