# NTSB CEN15CA105: Cessna 172K, N7061G, Holland, MI, January 17, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: January 17, 2015, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Holland, MI
- Coordinates: 42.742778, -86.10778 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7428&lon=-86.1078&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 March 10, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 90615
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15CA105
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90615/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90615
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15CA105

## Probable cause

The pilot's loss of control while landing in gusty wind conditions.

## 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 172K, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate; cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072430), [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 172K, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was performing a full stop landing to runway 26 at his home airfield. During the landing roll, a strong gusty crosswind lifted the airplane's left wing, the airplane veered right, and the pilot lost control. The airplane exited the runway and impacted a snow bank where it nosed over and came to rest inverted. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures contributed to the accident. A review of weather information revealed a prevailing wind from 210 degrees at 21 knots gusting to 28 knots, with a peak wind gust of 30 knots occurring prior to the pilot's landing.

## Factual narrative

The pilot was performing a full stop landing to runway 26 at his home airfield. During the landing roll, a strong gusty crosswind lifted the airplane's left wing, the airplane veered right, and the pilot lost control. The airplane exited the runway and impacted a snow bank where it nosed over and came to rest inverted. . The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures contributed to the accident. A review of weather information revealed a prevailing wind from 210 degrees at 21 knots gusting to 28 knots, with a peak wind gust of 30 knots occurring prior to the pilot's landing.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7061G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7061G-2018-05-31), registration cancelled 2018-05-31, S/N 17258761, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172K (P)
- Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17258761
- Year built: 1969
- Airframe hours: 49985
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Private Individual
- Registered owner: Geerlings Hillside Farms LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 10, 2014
- Departed: BIV, Holland, MI
- Destination: BIV, Holland, MI
- Airport: BIV, West Michigan Rgnl, runway 26, 6,002 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system, Handheld GPS, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 534 total, 500 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 0.6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 21 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 29.61 inHg
- Observed at: KBIV, 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 20150117000339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150117000339A), Jan 17, 2015: Cessna 172K, Holland, MI, Substantial damage. During landing roll out a Cessna 172K N7061G, collided with a snowbank and flipped sustaining substantial damage.

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 4, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90615. 3.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423191&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.

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