# NTSB CEN12CA099: Cessna 172N, N737ET, Wauseon, OH, December 3, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 3, 2011, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Wauseon, OH - Coordinates: 41.610279, -84.12722 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6103&lon=-84.1272&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 27, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA -- East Michigan Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 82484 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA099 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82484/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82484 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA099 ## Probable cause The student pilot's loss of directional control during landing. ## 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 172N, 82 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072434), [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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 150 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072434), [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-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 81 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 81 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 134 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot lost directional control during the sixth landing on his initial solo flight. He reported experiencing a shifting wind at the time of the accident. The airplane departed the runway pavement and encountered a ditch, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot commented that he might have used the wrong rudder pedal in his attempt to maintain directional control. He stated that there were no failures or malfunctions associated with the airplane prior the accident. The local wind was recorded at 6 knots or less during the 2-hour period surrounding the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported that the accident occurred during the sixth landing on his initial solo flight. He had remained in the traffic pattern while conducting full stop landings. He stated that the wind shifted from a right quartering headwind to a direct left crosswind at approximately 8 knots. While landing, the airplane banked to the right and departed the right side of the runway, encountering a ditch adjacent to the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot commented that he might have used the wrong rudder pedal in his attempt to maintain directional control. He stated that there were no failures or malfunctions associated with the airplane prior the accident. The local wind condition was recorded at 6 knots or less during the 2-hour period surrounding the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N737ET](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N737ET), registered now, S/N 17269367, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17269367 - Airframe hours: 5540.8 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Stewart Aviation - Registered owner: Gary M Zoldowski - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, December 2, 2011 - Departed: USE, Wauseon, OH - Destination: USE, Wauseon, OH - Airport: USE, Fulton County, runway 09, 3,882 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 32; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 20 total, 20 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.34 inHg - Observed at: TOL, 15 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 20111203029569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111203029569A), Dec 3, 2011: Cessna 172N, Wauseon, OH, Minor damage. Student pilot landed and a gust of wind caused aircraft to skid off the runway. Right wing tip and right wing root spar was damaged. Right wing aft inboard… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 26, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82484. 72 KB in all. - Conversation Record -- Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361538&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Conversation%20Record%20--%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Weather Observations -- Toledo Express Airport (item 2, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361537&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Observations%20--%20Toledo%20Express%20Airport-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.