# NTSB CEN09LA579: Cessna 172S, N523ND, Park Rapids, MN, September 13, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 12, 2009, 22:30 local (Sep 13, 2009, 03:30 UTC)
- Place: Park Rapids, MN
- Coordinates: 46.900554, -95.073059 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.9006&lon=-95.0731&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report April 19, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Minneapolis FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74723
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA579
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74723/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74723
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA579

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain a proper climb rate during a night takeoff.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/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 172S, 206 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Post-impact: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot performed a go-around on the first attempted landing at the airport during night visual meteorological conditions. On the second attempt, he landed about mid-field and performed a stop and go landing. He initiated the takeoff using 10-degrees of flaps. The pilot reported that when he reached about 100 feet above ground level, he retracted the flaps. He felt that the airspeed was a little low (70 knots IAS) so he pushed the nose over. He stated that he did not think he was in a descent, but the airplane hit the ground about 100 feet from the end of the runway. The nose gear collapsed and both wings were damaged as the airplane bounced and skidded to a stop. The examination of the accident site revealed eight ground scars in the grass which were consistent with propeller strikes. The propeller blades exhibited leading edge nicks and gouges, chordwise scratching, and blade twist. The inspection of the airplane’s flight controls revealed no preexisting anomalies. The pilot reported that he had 112 hours of flight time with 112 hours in make and model. He had flown 9 hours at night which included 2 hours of night experience when he was pilot-in-command.

## Factual narrative

On September 12, 2009, at 2230 central daylight time, a Cessna 172S, N523ND, operated by the University of North Dakota, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain during takeoff from runway 31 (5,498 feet by 100 feet, asphalt) at the Park Rapids Memorial Airport (PKD), Park Rapids, Minnesota. The pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. The 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight was departing PKD with Grand Forks International Airport (GFK), Grand Forks, North Dakota, as the final destination. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed. The private pilot reported he departed GFK at 1950 and flew to Baudette, Minnesota, and performed a stop and go landing. The pilot then departed Baudette and flew to PKD. The pilot did a go-around on the first attempted landing. On the second attempt he landed about mid-field and did a stop and go landing. He departed for GFK and initiated the takeoff using 10-degrees of flaps. The pilot reported that when he reached about 100 feet above ground level he retracted the flaps. He felt that the airspeed was a little low (70 knots IAS) so he pushed the nose over. He stated that he did not think he was in a descent, but the airplane hit the ground about 100 feet from the end of the runway. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the accident site and airplane. He reported that the examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane touched down about 100 feet from the end of the runway and went back into the air. When the airplane contacted the ground the second time, there were 8 ground scars in the grass which were consistent with propeller strikes. The airplane went airborne again, and the nose gear collapsed and both wings were damaged when it hit the ground the third time. The airplane came to rest about 150 feet from the end of the runway. The inspection of the airplane’s flight controls revealed no preexisting anomalies. The propeller blades exhibited leading edge nicks and gouges, chordwise scratching, and blade twist. The AmSafe seat belt airbag deployed on the pilot side. The pilot and co-pilot AmSafe airbag restraint systems were sent to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for examination. The examination revealed that the pilot’s restraint system was intact and functional. Markings on the belt portion of the restraint were consistent with some load having been placed on the belt. The lap-belt-mounted airbag had clearly deployed; however, there was no evidence on the bag itself to suggest that significant loads had been applied to the bag during the crash. The pilot was a 21-year-old private pilot with a single-engine land rating. He held a first class medical certificate that was issued on February 11, 2009. The pilot reported that he had 112 hours of flight time with 112 hours in make and model. He had flown 9 hours at night which included 2 hours of night experience when he waspilot-in-command.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N523ND](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N523ND-2010-06-16), registration cancelled 2010-06-16, S/N 172S10816, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S
- Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172S10816
- Airframe hours: 1020
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: University of North Dakota
- Registered owner: University of North Dakota
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, September 9, 2009
- Departed: PKD, Park Rapids, MN
- Destination: GFK, Grand Forks, ND
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: PKD, Park Rapids Municipal, runway 31, 5,498 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 21; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 27, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 112 total, 112 in this make and model, 19 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observed at: PKD, 1 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 20090912049389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090912049389A), Sep 12, 2009: Cessna 172S, Park Rapids, MN, Destroyed. On 09/12/2009 [privacy data omitted] departed kgfk at 7:50 pm flying N523ND a CE-172S on a night cross country flight to kbde performed a stop and go around…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 8, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74723. 5.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 715 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323671&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Airbag Factual Report (item 2, .PDF, 200 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40321791&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airbag%20Factual%20Report-Master.PDF
- Photo 1. View of Ground Scars (item 3, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323673&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20%20View%20of%20Ground%20Scars-Master.PDF
- Photo 2. Propeller (item 4, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323672&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20%20Propeller-Master.PDF
- Photo 3. View of Accident Site (item 5, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323674&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20%20View%20of%20Accident%20Site-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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