# NTSB ATL99LA041: Cessna 172, N6700A, Centre, AL, January 12, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 12, 1999, 13:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Centre, AL
- Coordinates: 34.150051, -85.669097 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1501&lon=-85.6691&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 45650
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL99LA041
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45650/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99LA041

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning and his failure to attain the proper touchdown point on the runway.  Factors were the tailwind weather condition, and the wet sod runway.

## Sequence of events

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

- Overrun, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - wet (contributing factor)
  - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

According to the pilot, there were power lines on the north end of the 2,000 foot runway so he elected to make a downwind landing to the north to miss the lines. The airplane landed long, and during the landing roll, the pilot found that the winds were stronger then expected and the airplane would not stop on the wet grass. The airplane slid off the end of the runway, crossing a ditch and highway 411, nosing over in a ditch on the other-side of the highway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to include the propeller, wing strut, wing spars, vertical stabilizer, and a collapsed nose gear.

## Factual narrative

On January 12, 1999, at 1300 Central Standard Time, a Cessna 172, N6700A, nosed over during the landing roll on a private grass strip in Centre, Alabama. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane had departed Gadsden, Alabama, at 1230.

According to the pilot, there were power lines on the north end of the 2,000 foot runway so he elected to make a downwind landing to the north to miss the lines. According to the FAA the airplane touched down about 500 feet down the runway. During the landing roll, the pilot found that the winds were stronger than expected and the airplane would not stop on the wet grass. The airplane slid off the end of the runway, crossing a ditch and highway 411, nosing over in a ditch on the other-side of the highway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to included the propeller, wing strut, wing spars, vertical stabilizer, and a collapsed nose gear.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6700A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6700A-2013-02-13), registration cancelled 2013-02-13, S/N 28800, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28800
- Engines: Continental O-300A 140 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Bobby Dean Carlton
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: GAD, GADSDEN, AL
- Destination: AL27, CENTRE, AL
- Airport: AL27, Headquarters, runway 18, 2,000 × 75 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 165 total, 116 in this make and model, 113 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 15 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ANB, 41 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 19990112017279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990112017279A), Jan 12, 1999: Cessna 172, Centre, AL, Substantial damage. (.4) On January 12, 1999, at 1300 central standard time, a Cessna 172, N6700A, nosed over during the landing roll on a private grass strip in Centre, Alabama.…

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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