# NTSB CEN11CA668: Cessna R172K, N758DZ, Jonesboro, AR, September 18, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 17, 2011, 20:00 local (Sep 18, 2011, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Jonesboro, AR - Coordinates: 35.825553, -90.641113 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8256&lon=-90.6411&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 18, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Little Rock FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81903 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA668 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81903/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81903 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA668 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane while taxiing. ## 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: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); 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: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna R172K, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072431), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Taxi: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna R172K, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072431), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Taxi: 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) ## Analysis The pilot said that he failed to maintain directional control after landing at night. The airplane exited the right side of the runway onto a grassy area, struck the edge of a paved taxiway, and came to a full stop on the taxiway with the engine still operating. The pilot added power to begin taxiing and discovered that he could only steer the airplane to the left. The pilot reported that he then added power to begin a taxiing left turn onto the grass in order clear the runway. While taxiing on the grass surface the nosewheel went down a slope and the propeller struck an obstruction. The impact caused substantial damage to the forward fuselage structure and the firewall. ## Factual narrative The pilot said that he failed to maintain directional control after landing in dark night visual conditions. The airplane exited the right side of the runway onto a grassy area, struck the edge of a paved taxiway, and then came to a full stop on the taxiway with the engine still operating. The pilot added power to begin taxiing and discovered he could steer the airplane only to the left. The pilot reported that he then added power to begin a taxiing left turn onto the grass “in order clear the runway.” While taxiing on the grass surface the nose wheel inadvertently went down a slope and the propeller struck an obstruction. The impact caused substantial damage to the forward fuselage structure and the firewall. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N758DZ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N758DZ), registered now, S/N R1723025, built 1978 (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: R1723025 - Airframe hours: 945 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-360 SER 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 3, 2011, 23 hours before - Departed: JWN, Nashville, TN - Destination: JBR, Jonesboro, AR - Airport: JBR, Jonesboro Municipal Airport, runway 23, 6,200 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 553 total, 470 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 10° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KJBR ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 28, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81903. 540 KB in all. - Pilot's Statement (item 1, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358600&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Weather Summary (item 2, .PDF, 477 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358603&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Summary-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. --- 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.