# NTSB CEN12LA214: Cessna 172S, N480SP, Midlothian, TX, March 29, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 29, 2012, 17:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Midlothian, TX - Coordinates: 32.458332, -96.912498 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4583&lon=-96.9125&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 October 9, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Dallas FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83251 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA214 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83251/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83251 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA214 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## 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 172S, 66 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072439), [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 172S, 206 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072439), [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 172S, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072439), [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 172S, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072439), [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 172S, 118 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that there was a 5 to 10 knot left crosswind while landing. He reported that he had no difficulty maintaining the runway centerline alignment during the final approach and touchdown. An uneventful touchdown was made on the runway centerline; however, during the landing roll, the airplane began to veer to the left. The pilot stated that despite his increased use of right rudder to regain directional control, the airplane departed the left side of the runway and impacted a ditch. The nose landing gear collapsed when the airplane impacted the ditch. The pilot further noted that he had not experienced any ground-handling difficulties during the two takeoffs and one landing completed earlier that day. A postaccident examination confirmed that the cockpit rudder pedals were operating properly. Additionally, no mechanical anomalies were revealed during a functional test of the brake system. A postaccident review of available wind data indicated that the accident airplane likely landed in a left quartering crosswind of about 5 knots with no appreciable gusts. In the absence of any significant crosswind or wind gust, and coupled with the lack of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions of the nose wheel steering or brake systems, the pilot should have been able to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## Factual narrative On March 29, 2012, at 1715 central daylight time, a Cessna 172S airplane, N480SP, was substantially damaged while landing at Mid-Way Regional Airport (KJWY), Midlothian, Texas. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. The flight departed Sportsman's World Airport (TA65), Palo Pinto, Texas, about 1615 with KJWY as the intended destination. The pilot stated that there was a 5-10 knot left crosswind while landing on runway 18 (6,500 feet by 100 feet, asphalt). He reported that he had no difficulty maintaining runway centerline alignment during the final approach and touchdown. An uneventful touchdown was made on the runway centerline; however, during the landing roll, the airplane began to veer to the left. The pilot stated that despite his increased use of right rudder to regain directional control, the airplane departed off the left side of the runway and impacted a ditch. The nose landing gear collapsed when the airplane impacted the ditch. He further noted that he had not experienced any ground-handling difficulties during the 2 takeoffs and 1 landing completed earlier that day. A postaccident examination was completed by inspectors with the Federal Aviation Administration. The examination revealed substantial damage to the right wing primary structure and engine firewall. Although the nose wheel steering linkages had fractured when the nose gear collapsed, movement of the cockpit rudder pedals confirmed their proper operation. Additionally, no mechanical anomalies were found during a function test of the brake system. The postaccident examination did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. At 1715, the airport's automated surface observing system reported the following weather conditions: wind 120 degrees at 6 knots; visibility 10 miles; scattered clouds at 2,800 and 3,300 feet above ground level; temperature 25 degrees Celsius; dew point 17 degrees Celsius; altimeter setting 29.84 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N480SP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N480SP), registered now, S/N 172S8025, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172S - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S8025 - Airframe hours: 1341 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 22, 2012, 2 hours before - Departed: TA65, Palo Pinto, TX - Destination: KJWY, Midlothian, TX - Airport: KJWY, Mid-Way Regional Airport, runway 18, 6,500 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 12, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 463 total, 61 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: KJWY ## 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 20120329009859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120329009859A), Mar 29, 2012: Cessna 172S, Midlothian, TX, Substantial damage. N480SP upon touchdown experienced immediate veer to the right due to crosswind correction still being applied. Pilot then immediately over compensated to the… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 1, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83251. 2.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371680&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Written Statement (item 2, .PDF, 252 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371681&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Written%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum of Conversation with Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371682&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Conversation%20with%20Pilot-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (David Hastings) (item 4, .PDF, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371683&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement%20(David%20Hastings)-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (Cameron Baker) (item 5, .PDF, 138 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371684&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement%20(Cameron%20Baker)%0D%0A-Redacted.PDF - FAA Insepctor Statement (Christopher Doherty) (item 6, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371685&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Insepctor%20Statement%20(Christopher%20Doherty)-Master.PDF - Weather Reports (item 7, .PDF, 118 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371686&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports-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.