# NTSB CEN11LA073: Cessna 172K, N7183G, San Antonio, TX, November 15, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 15, 2010, 15:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: San Antonio, TX - Coordinates: 29.811666, -98.425834 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.8117&lon=-98.4258&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 3 serious - Status: Completed, report May 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office, Cessna Aircraft Company - NTSB case key (mKey): 77826 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA073 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77826/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77826 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA073 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to land with a tailwind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: 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) ## Analysis According to several witnesses, the pilot was attempting to land with a tailwind. According to the pilot, he was trying to land when the wind became very strong and swirling. The pilot attempted to go around when the wing stalled. The airplane impacted several trees and came to rest inverted, resulting in substantial damage. An examination of the airframe and its systems revealed no anomalies. The closest weather observation station recorded wind from 190 degrees at 10 knots. ## Factual narrative On November 15, 2010, approximately 1545 central standard time, a Cessna 172K, N7183G, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees near Kestrel Airpark (1T7), San Antonio, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. The private pilot and two passengers were seriously injured. The cross-country flight departed Kerrville, Texas, and was en route to 1T7. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who traveled to the accident scene, the flight had departed 1T7 that morning, flew to Kerrville for lunch, and was returning to 1T7 when the accident occurred. Witnesses reported that the airplane was attempting to land with a tailwind to runway 30 (3,000 feet by 40 feet, asphalt). The airplane flew an approach to the runway and as the airplane continued towards the departure end of the runway it leveled off. The airplane impacted trees at the departure end of the runway bending both wings and crushing the fuselage. According to the written statement submitted by the pilot, he was trying to land when the wind became very strong and swirling. The pilot attempted to go around when the "wing stalled." The airplane impacted several trees and came to rest inverted. An examination of the airframe and its systems, conducted by an investigator from Cessna Aircraft and an inspector from the FAA, revealed no anomalies. The closest weather observation station recorded winds at 190 degrees at 10 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7183G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7183G-2011-01-31), registration cancelled 2011-01-31, S/N 17258883, built 1969 (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: 17258883 - Airframe hours: 7974 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 7, 2010 - Departed: KERV, Kerrville, TX - Destination: 1T7, San Antonio, TX - Airport: 1T7, Kestrel Airpark, runway 30, 3,000 × 40 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; last flight review December 29, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 3,950 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 3,950 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.60 inHg - Observed at: KSAT, 17 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 20101115052699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101115052699A), Nov 15, 2010: Cessna 172K, Spring Branch, TX, Destroyed. Pilot attempted to land down wind at Kestrel Airpark (north) heading. Tryed go around, impacted tree about 1/4 mile from end of runway, on [privacy data… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 4, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77826. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 414 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40342711&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 2, .PDF, 757 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40342712&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-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.