# NTSB CEN10CA576: Cessna 172M, N9659Q, Belle Plaine, MN, September 28, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 27, 2010, 19:15 local (Sep 28, 2010, 00:15 UTC)
- Place: Belle Plaine, MN
- Coordinates: 44.666389, -93.783332 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6664&lon=-93.7833&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 16, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 77450
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA576
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77450/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77450
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA576

## Probable cause

The pilot's loss of directional control due to an encounter with soft terrain while landing.

## Findings

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

- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/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 172M, 59 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072418), [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-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 100 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

During landing, the airplane's landing gear contacted soft terrain and the airplane veered to the left. Despite the pilot's attempts to correct for the sudden change in direction, the airplane continued into an adjacent corn field and nosed over. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right wing was bent aft and twisted. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical problems with the airplane.

## Factual narrative

During landing on runway 26 (2,000 feet long by 50 feet wide, turf), the landing gear contacted soft terrain and the airplane pulled to the left. The pilot attempted to correct; however, the airplane continued into an adjacent corn field and nosed over. Examination of the airplane revealed the right wing was bent aft and twisted. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9659Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9659Q), registered now, S/N 17265743, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17265743
- Airframe hours: 1093
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Nagel Gerald H
- Registered owner: Nagel Gerald H
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 11, 2010
- Departed: Woseod, MN
- Destination: 7Y7, Belle Plaine, MN
- Airport: PVT, Pvt, runway 26, 2,000 × 50 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 16, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 389 total, 326 in this make and model, 389 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F

## 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 20100927045949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100927045949A), Sep 27, 2010: Cessna 172M, Belle Plaine, MN, Substantial damage. During the landing rollout, the pilot allowed the aircraft to deviate laterally to the side of the runway to the point where the left hand wing came into…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 22, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77450. 400 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 400 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338022&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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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