# NTSB CEN13CA040: Cessna 172S, N172FU, McKinney, TX, November 2, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 2, 2012, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: McKinney, TX - Coordinates: 33.176944, -96.58889 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1769&lon=-96.5889&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 27, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA -- Dallas Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 85493 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA040 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85493/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85493 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA040 ## 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: [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: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Student/instructed pilot; cases with it: [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/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 on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [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: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that he was conducting a solo flight in the airport traffic pattern at the time of the accident. He stated that the airplane made a "soft landing on [the] main wheels." However, once the nose landing gear touched down, the airplane "darted" to the left. His attempts to maintain control were unsuccessful, and the airplane departed the runway pavement. A postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies related to the nosewheel steering or main wheel brakes. The recorded wind was calm about the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported that he was conducting a solo instructional flight in the airport traffic pattern at the time of the accident. He stated that it was a "soft landing on [the] main wheels." However, once the nose landing gear touched down the airplane "darted" to the left. His attempts to maintain control were unsuccessful and the airplane departed the runway pavement. A postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies related to the nose wheel steering or main wheel brakes. The recorded wind was calm about the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: N172FU (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S10182 - Airframe hours: 1849 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Flight Training Aircraft Inc. - Registered owner: Flight Training Aircraft Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 30, 2012 - Departed: TKI, McKinney, TX - Destination: TKI, McKinney, TX - Airport: TKI, Collin County Regional, runway 18, 7,002 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 22; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 2, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 25 total, 25 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: TKI, 1 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 20121102028539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121102028539A), Nov 2, 2012: Cessna 172S, Mckinny, TX, Substantial damage. On 2 November at or near 0853L a Cessna 172S serial number 172S10182 registered as N172FU while landing at mckinney Texas, Collin County Airport (tki) departed… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 31, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85493. 449 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 394 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40383934&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Conversation Record -- FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 32 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384091&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Conversation%20Record%20--%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Weather Observations -- McKinney, Texas (item 3, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384096&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Observations%20--%20McKinney,%20Texas-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.