# NTSB CEN09CA437: Cessna 172K, N79908, Pine River, MN, July 13, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 13, 2009, 09:03 local (14:03 UTC)
- Place: Pine River, MN
- Coordinates: 46.720172, -94.389663 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.7202&lon=-94.3897&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 15, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74272
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA437
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74272/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74272
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA437

## Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot was attempting a full-stop landing during a solo flight. Upon touchdown, the airplane veered off the west side of the runway into a drainage ditch and flipped over. The airplane sustained wrinkling of the right wing and a bent wing spar resulting in substantial damage. The pilot was uninjured.

## Factual narrative

The student pilot was attempting a full stop landing on runway 34 (3,000 feet by 75 feet, asphalt) during a solo flight. Upon touchdown, the airplane veered off the west side of the runway into a drainage ditch and flipped over. The airplane sustained wrinkling of the right wing and a bent wing spar resulting in substantial damage. The pilot was uninjured.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N79908](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N79908), registered now, S/N 17258241 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172K
- Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17258241
- Airframe hours: 3564
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Air D Inc
- Registered owner: Air D Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 9, 2009
- Departed: 7Y3, Backus, MN
- Destination: PWC, Pine River, MN
- Airport: PWC, Pine River Regional Airport, runway 34, 3,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 23; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 12 total, 12 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Observed at: PWC

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 24, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74272. 730 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 730 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317670&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF

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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