# NTSB CEN14CA104: Cessna 172P, N55277, Cotulla, TX, January 5, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 5, 2014, 16:40 local (22:40 UTC) - Place: Cotulla, TX - Coordinates: 28.456666, -99.21833 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.4567&lon=-99.2183&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 13, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 88639 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14CA104 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88639/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88639 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA104 ## Probable cause The student pilot did not maintain control of the airplane while landing. The flight instructor's failure to monitor the flight contributed to the accident. ## 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 172P, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/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 in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the landing flare to runway 31, the airplane was "pushed to the left" by a "sudden gust of wind". The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. Both wings, the vertical stabilizer, and the rudder were substantially damaged. The flight instructor stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The flight instructor and the student pilot both reported that the wind was 330 degrees at 14 knots, gusting to 21 knots. The official weather observation, recorded at 1553, reported the wind as 340 degrees at 14 knots. The observation, recorded at 1553, reported the wind as 010 degrees at 12 knots. ## Factual narrative During the landing flare to runway 31, the airplane was "pushed to the left" by a "sudden gust of wind". The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. Both wings, the vertical stabilizer, and the rudder were substantially damaged. The flight instructor stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The flight instructor and the student pilot both reported that the wind was 330 degrees at 14 knots, gusting to 21 knots. The official weather observation, recorded at 1553, reported the wind as 340 degrees at 14 knots. The observation, recorded at 1553, reported the wind as 010 degrees at 12 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N55277](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N55277-2020-08-19), registration cancelled 2020-08-19, S/N 17275150, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P (P) - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17275150 - Year built: 1981 - Airframe hours: 9180 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Alphatango Flying Services - Registered owner: Laguna Verde Leasing Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 12, 2013 - Departed: KCVB, Castroville, TX - Destination: KCOT, Cotulla, TX - Airport: KCOT, Cotulla-La Salle County Airpor, runway 31, 5,005 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 29; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 381 total, 142 in this make and model, 238 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 18; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 19 total, 10 in this make and model, 19 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: KCOT ## 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 20140105000819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140105000819A), Jan 5, 2014: Cessna 172P, Cotula, TX, Substantial damage. On 01/05/2014, at approximately 16:45 hours, a Cessna 172P, N55277 owned by lagua verde leasing inc. and operated by alpha tango, crashed at Cotulla-la Salle… ## Other investigations on N55277 (1) 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. - [NTSB MKC84LA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC84LA075), Feb 14, 1984: Cessna 172P (N55277), Springfield, MO, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 6, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88639. 458 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - CFI (item 1, .PDF, 227 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40408485&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20CFI-Redacted.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Student (item 2, .PDF, 230 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40408516&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Student-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.