# NTSB CEN13CA335: Cessna 172S, N857SP, Ann Arbor, MI, June 9, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 9, 2013, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Ann Arbor, MI - Coordinates: 42.222499, -83.746665 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2225&lon=-83.7467&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: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 23, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 87148 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA335 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87148/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87148 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA335 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to make a go-around in a timely manner and his loss of control during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/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 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: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was cleared to land on runway 30. The recorded wind was 110 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 17 knots. The airplane touched down at 50 to 60 knots and about 700 feet short of the intersection with runway 6-24. A slight upward slope at the intersection caused the airplane to bounce and become airborne. The pilot contemplated making a go-around, but elected to continue the landing. Upon touching down again, the airplane began to porpoise, the nose wheel collapsed, and the airplane came to a stop. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot's statements contained in both the NTSB and Pittsfield Police Department accident reports, he made a stop-and-go landing on runway 6. Due to other airplanes in the traffic pattern, the pilot requested and was cleared to land on runway 12. He inadvertently aligned the airplane with runway 30 and was subsequently cleared to land on that runway. The recorded wind was almost a direct tailwind (110 degrees) at 12 knots, gusting to 17 knots. The pilot said he touched down at 50 to 60 KIAS (knots indicated airspeed) and about 700 feet short of the intersection with runway 06-24. A slight upward slope at the intersection caused the airplane to bounce and become airborne. The pilot contemplated making a go-around, but elected to continue the landing. Upon touching down again, the airplane began to porpoise, the nose wheel collapsed, and the airplane came to a stop. The passengers and a witness corroborated the pilot's statements. Postaccident examination revealed buckling of the engine firewall and a hole in the bottom of the fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N857SP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N857SP), registered now, S/N 172S8115 (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: 172S8115 - Airframe hours: 4367 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: BTG Aviation, LLC, doing business as Aviation Center - Registered owner: BTG Aviation, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 22, 2012, 49 hours before - Departed: KARB, Ann Arbot, MI - Destination: KARB, Ann Arbot, MI - Airport: KARB, Ann Arbor Municipal, runway 30, 2,750 × 110 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 25, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 1,597 total, 22 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 12 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KARB ## 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 20130609009259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130609009259A), Jun 9, 2013: Cessna 172S, Ann Arbor, MI, Substantial damage. Aircraft experienced a collapsed nose gear on attempted landing at Ann Arbor Municipal Airport (karb) The pilot stated he was coming in for a landing on the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 26, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87148. 3.0 MB in all. - NTSB Form 6120.1-2, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394703&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1-2,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Pittsfield Police Report (item 2, .PDF, 989 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394657&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pittsfield%20Police%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - N857SP in the grass at KARB (item 3, .PDF, 137 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394704&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20N857SP%20in%20the%20grass%20at%20KARB-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.