# NTSB CEN12CA315: Cessna 172N, N73743, Wichita, KS, May 25, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 25, 2012, 08:00 local (13:00 UTC) - Place: Wichita, KS - Coordinates: 37.741943, -97.219444 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7419&lon=-97.2194&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 15, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83746 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA315 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83746/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83746 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA315 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during landing and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in a collision with terrain. ## 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 · 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) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/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: 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) ## Analysis The flight instructor and student pilot were practicing takeoffs and landings. They stated that on the second landing, when the airplane touched down, it veered sharply to the right. The instructor took control of the airplane and tried to stop the turn by applying full left rudder. She said that the rudder peddle was too stiff and that the airplane departed the side of the runway. The airplane struck a dirt berm and substantially damaged the firewall and empennage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed there were a lot of loose objects in the airplane, but there was no physical evidence that the rudder pedals had been jammed or impeded. Further examination revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The instructor and student pilot were practicing takeoffs and landings. On the second landing, when the airplane touched down, it veered sharply to the right. The instructor took control of the airplane and tried to stop the turn by applying full left rudder. She said the rudder peddle was too stiff and the airplane departed the side of the runway. The airplane struck a dirt berm and damaged the firewall and empennage. Examination of the airplane revealed there was a lot of debris and loose onjects in the airplane, but there was no physical evidence that the rudder pedals had been jammed or impeded. A functional test of the rudder pedals, brakes, and landing gear fork revealed no mechanical anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N73743](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N73743-2018-01-26), registration cancelled 2018-01-26, S/N 17267642, built 1976 (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: 17267642 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Sabris Corporation - Registered owner: Sabris Corporation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: AAO, Wichita, KS - Destination: AAO, Wichita, KS - Airport: AAO, Colonel James Jabara, runway 36, 6,101 × 100 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 44; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; last flight review July 11, 2011; seat: right; flight hours: 3,855 total, 1,356 in this make and model - Student pilot; age 69; injuries: minor; student; medical: unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 40 total, 40 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20120525010699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120525010699A), May 25, 2012: Cessna 172N, Wichita, KS, Substantial damage. The flight instructor and student pilot were practicing touch and go landings on runway 36 at Jabara Airport (aao). During the second landing, the aircraft… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 8, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83746. 368 KB in all. - CFI and Student Pilot Written Statements (item 1, .PDF, 160 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373894&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=CFI%20and%20Student%20Pilot%20Written%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 208 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373897&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-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.