# NTSB CEN13LA167: Cessna 172L, N7974G, Idabel, OK, February 7, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 7, 2013, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Idabel, OK - Coordinates: 33.909168, -94.859443 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9092&lon=-94.8594&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 10, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 86262 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA167 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86262/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86262 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA167 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion. ## 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 · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172L, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072432), [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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172L, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072432), [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: [Cessna 172L, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072432), [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: [Cessna 172L, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072432), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot stated that, while landing, the airplane began to veer left when its nosewheel contacted the runway. He attempted to correct with full right rudder but was unable to regain control of the airplane. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and struck a drainage ditch, which resulted in the shearing off of the nose landing gear. An examination of the airplane wreckage did not reveal any preimpact anomalies with the engine or airframe that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On February 7, 2013, about 1200 central standard time, a Cessna 172L airplane, N7974G, departed the side of the runway while landing at the McCurtain Country Regional Airport (4O4), Idabel, Oklahoma. The solo student pilot was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to Arrow Aviation LLC and operated by the Texarkana Flying Club under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The flight originated from the Texarkana Regional Airport (KTXK), Texarkana, Arkansas, about 1115, and was en route to 4O4.According to a statement provided by the pilot, while landing on runway 20, the airplane began to veer to the left as soon as the nose landing gear contacted the runway. The pilot attempted to correct with full right rudder and was unable to regain control of the airplane. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and rolled in to a grass field where the nose gear struck a drainage ditch and sheared off the nose landing gear. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. Substantial damage was sustained to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. An examination of the airplane wreckage by responding Federal Aviation Administration inspectors did not detect any preimpact malfunctions or failures with the engine or airframe. Prevailing wind was from 180 degrees at 7 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7974G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7974G-2018-02-26), registration cancelled 2018-02-26, S/N 17259674, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172L - Registry model: [Cessna 172L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172l) (registry code 2072432) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17259674 - Airframe hours: 2608 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Texarkana Flying Club - Registered owner: Arrow Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 8, 2013 - Departed: KTXK, Texarkana, AR - Destination: K4O4, Idabel, OK - Airport: 4O4, Mc Curtain County Rgnl, runway 20, 5,002 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 38; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 37 total, 16 in this make and model, 9 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: K4O4 ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 10, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86262. 8.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397636&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot's statement (item 2, .PDF, 231 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397637&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20statement-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: Accident overview (item 3, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397638&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Accident%20overview-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Accident overview 2 (item 4, .PDF, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397639&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Accident%20overview%202-Master.PDF - Correspondence: FAA Inspector Fields (item 5, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405435&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%3A%20FAA%20Inspector%20Fields-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.