CEN11CA261

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172N · Colorado Springs, CO · April 3, 2011

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
April 3, 2011, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC)
Place
Colorado Springs, CO
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N3484ECessna 172N
Defining event
Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report June 20, 2011
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20110403004839A
Case key
78746

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot loss of directional control during landing in gusty crosswind conditions.

Findings · 2

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedCessna 172N: 82 casesAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause
Wind: gustsEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operationCessna 172N: 28 casesAll aircraft: 1,199 cases

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

As the pilot returned to the local airport, the airport tower controller informed him of a storm cell approaching the airfield, issued a clearance to land, and reported wind from 70 degrees left of runway heading at 25 knots gusting to 34 knots. The pilot estimated the wind at 18 knots of crosswind, and landed using 40 degrees of flaps. While on the landing roll, the wind shifted to a tailwind at which time the airplane began to drift to the right side of the runway. The pilot attempted to go-around, but could not regain control of the airplane. He then elected to abort the go-around and attempted to bring the airplane to a stop. The airplane departed the right side of the runway and continued into a field. The airplane encountered uneven terrain and the airplane nosed over. Substantial damage was sustained to the airplane's wings and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported no preimpact malfunctions with the airplane. A review of air traffic control transmissions revealed the pilot was aware of alerts for low-level windshear and microbursts during this local flight. The airplane's pilot operating handbook directs pilots to utilize the minimum flap setting required for field length while operating in strong crosswind conditions. In addition, the handbook does not state a maximum allowable crosswind velocity, but states that average pilot technique should be able to handle 15 knots of crosswind.

Factual narrative

As the pilot returned to the local airport, the airport tower controller informed him of a storm cell approaching the airfield, issued a clearance to land, and reported winds from 70 degrees left of runway heading at 25 knots gusting to 34 knots. The pilot estimated the winds at 18 knots of crosswind, and landed using 40 degrees of flaps. While on landing roll, the airplane experienced a shift in winds to a tailwind at which time the airplane began to drift to the right side of the 150-foot wide runway. The pilot attempted to go-around, but could not regain control of the airplane. He then elected to abort the go-around and attempted to bring the airplane to a stop. The airplane departed the right side of the runway and continued into a field. The airplane encountered uneven terrain and the airplane nosed over. Substantial damage was sustained to the airplane's wings and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported no preimpact malfunctions with the airplane. A review of Air Traffic Control transmissions revealed the pilot was aware of alerts for low-level windshear and microbursts during the his local flight. The airplane's pilot operating handbook directs pilots to utilize the minimum flap setting required for field length while operating in strong crosswinds. In addition, the handbook does not state a maximum allowable crosswind velocity, but states that average pilot technique should be able to handle 15 knots of crosswind. Winds at the times of the pilot's landing were between 23 knots and 32 knots of crosswind.

Aircraft

Registration
N3484E
Reported as
Cessna 172N
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17271566
Engine
Lycoming O-320 SERIES, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Peak Aviation Center Inc
Registered owner
Peak Aviation Center Inc
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
KCOS · Colorado Springs, CO
Destination
KCOS · Colorado Springs, CO
Airport
KCOS · Colorado Springs Municipal, runway 35R, 13,501 × 150 ft, concrete

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
20
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3
Last flight review
October 29, 2010
Seat
Left
Flight hours
86 total · 5 in this make and model · 31 as pilot in command · 0 in the last 90 days · 0 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
290° at 28 knots, gusting 39
Visibility
8 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
6,000 ft broken
Temperature
55 °F, dew point 34 °F
Altimeter
29.55 inHg
Observed at
KCOS

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 2, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.7 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.