# NTSB CEN11CA257: Cessna 172K, N79286, San Antonio, TX, April 1, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 1, 2011, 14:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: San Antonio, TX - Coordinates: 29.510555, -98.798332 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5106&lon=-98.7983&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 11, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 78735 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA257 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78735/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78735 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA257 ## Probable cause The student pilot's inadequate compensation for wind while landing in gusty wind conditions. ## 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 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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: 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) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot lost directional control of the airplane while landing in gusty wind conditions. The airplane bounced, and touched back down in the grass alongside of the runway, before the left wing impacted a tree. The airplane’s wings and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The closest weather reporting station was located 15 nautical miles to the southeast of the accident site. Twenty minutes before the accident, the reported wind was from 190 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The student pilot further reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. ## Factual narrative Following a solo cross-country flight, the student pilot lost directional control of the airplane while landing on runway 17 in gusty wind conditions. The airplane bounced, and touched back down in the grass alongside of the runway, before the left wing impacted a tree. The airplane's wings and fuselage sustained substantial damage during the accident. The closest weather reporting station was located 15 nautical miles to the southeast of the accident site. Twenty minutes before the accident, the winds were reported from 190 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The student pilot reported the winds at the time of the accident to be from 200 degrees at 11 knots gusting to 16 knots. The student pilot further reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N79286](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N79286), registered now, S/N 17258023 (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: 17258023 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Alamo Aerodyne Inc - Registered owner: Alamo Aerodyne Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 5C1, Boerne, TX - Destination: 8T8, San Antonio, TX - Airport: 8T8, San Geronimo Airpark, runway 17, 3,000 × 40 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 22; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 14 total, 14 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 12 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg ## 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 20110401007539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110401007539A), Apr 1, 2011: Cessna 172K, Boerne, TX, Substantial damage. Student pilot departed Boerne stage airport enroute to San Geronimo Airport. Pilot entered the pattern for runway 17. After traveling 500 feet down the runway… ## Other investigations on N79286 (1) 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. - [NTSB DFW07LA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW07LA082), Mar 8, 2007: Cessna 172K (N79286), Boerne, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot of the other airplane's failure to maintain proper spacing during approach to landing and subsequent go-around, which resulted in a midair collision. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 15, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78735. 620 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 620 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349094&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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.