# NTSB CEN09LA231: Cessna R172K, N736CL, Hazen, ND, March 29, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 28, 2009, 21:18 local (Mar 29, 2009, 03:18 UTC)
- Place: Hazen, ND
- Coordinates: 47.289722, -101.287223 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.2897&lon=-101.2872&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 19, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73574
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA231
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73574/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73574
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA231

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll.

## Findings

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

- [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 R172K, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072431), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna R172K, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072431), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cessna R172K, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072431), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna R172K, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072431), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna R172K, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072431), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he took off from an airport where there was snow, water, and slush on the taxiways. He landed at another airport for fuel and then departed for his destination. He said that the approach to the destination airport was normal, the touchdown was near the south approach end of the runway, and the rollout started near center of runway. After touchdown, he applied brakes, the airplane veered to the left, and the left main wheel departed the runway surface. The pilot was unable to bring the left wheel back on the runway and was unable to stop. As the airplane slowed, the left wheel entered a snowbank, and nosed over. The pilot said that the aircraft acted like the right brake did not operate properly and suspected it may have frozen since his departure was from the airport with the snow, water, and slush. The accident airplane was subsequently examined and no anomalies with the braking system were detected.

## Factual narrative

On March 28, 2009, about 2118 mountain daylight time, N736CL, a Cessna R172K airplane, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during landing on runway 32 (5,000 feet by 75 feet, asphalt) at the Mercer County Regional Airport (HZE), near Hazen, North Dakota. The pilot and pilot rated passenger reported no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight departed the Searle Field Airport (OGA), near Ogallala, Nebraska, and was destined for HZE. The pilot's accident report stated that he departed from Amarillo, Texas, (KAMA) where there was snow, water, and slush on the taxiways. He landed at OGA for fuel and departed for HZE. He, in part, reported: Arriving Hazen, flew traffic pattern, wind appeared light and variable with sky clear. After normal approach and touch down near south end of runway 32, rollout started near center of runway. As I applied brakes, aircraft veered to left. I was able to straighten aircraft with left wheel against snowbank running just off left edge of runway. Right wheel and nose wheel were on the runway. I was not able to bring left wheel back on the runway and was unable to stop aircraft. As the aircraft slowed, the left wheel entered the snowbank pulling the aircraft in until it stopped and nosed over in the snow. ... The aircraft acted like the right brake did not operate properly. I suspect it may have frozen since at KAMA. At 2052, the recorded weather at the Bismarck Municipal Airport, near Bismarck, North Dakota, was: Wind 310 degrees at 5 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, sky condition clear, temperature -1 degree C, dew point -4 degrees C, altimeter 29.83 inches of mercury. The accident airplane was examined by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector. The examination revealed no anomalies with the braking system.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N736CL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N736CL-2013-06-24), registration cancelled 2013-06-24, S/N R1722420, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA R172K
- Registry model: [Cessna R172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r172k) (registry code 2072431) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: R1722420
- Airframe hours: 3624
- Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-360-K 195 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Kevin Flaagon & Associates
- Registered owner: Kevin Flaagon & Associates
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 5, 2008
- Departed: OGA, Ogllala, NE
- Destination: HZE, Hazen, ND
- Airport: HZE, Mercer County Regional Airport, runway 32, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 26, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 538 total, 183 in this make and model, 447 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 11 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observed at: BIS, 46 nm away

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 20, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73574. 7.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 7.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316377&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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