# NTSB CEN15LA371: Cessna 172C, N1805Y, Venice, LA, August 15, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 15, 2015, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Venice, LA - Coordinates: 29.01361, -89.159721 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0136&lon=-89.1597&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 16, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 91835 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15LA371 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91835/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91835 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA371 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain a safe landing approach airspeed with a crosswind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172C, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2072408), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072408), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 172C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=2072408), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/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: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172C, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072408), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot was conducting a cross-country personal flight. The pilot reported that, while the airplane was on landing approach with 20 degrees of flaps, an indicated airspeed of 60 mph, and a descent rate of 200 ft per minute, he saw a small rain squall 2 miles south of the airstrip, which was producing a light-to-moderate crosswind. Just before the airplane entered ground effect, its airspeed dropped, and the pilot then applied full power; however, the airplane touched down at the approach end of the runway, which was soft and muddy. The nose gear subsequently sank into the soft ground, and the airplane slid to a stop. ## Factual narrative On August 15, 2015, about 1130 central daylight time a Cessna 172C, N1805Y, nosed down after touching down on a soggy portion of the runway at Port Eads Airstrip, Venice, Louisiana. The pilot and two passengers received minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed. The cross-country flight originated Diamondhead, Mississippi, about 1030 and was destined for Port Eads.In his accident report, the pilot said while he was on landing approach with 20 degrees of flaps, 60 miles per hour indicated airspeed, and a 200 feet per minute rate of descent, he said he saw a small [rain] squall two miles south of the airstrip producing a light to moderate crosswind. Just before entering ground effect, he noticed a drop in airspeed and he applied full power. The airplane touched down at the lower end of the runway which was soggy. The nose gear sank in the soft ground and the airplane slid to a stop. Post-accident examination has revealed a damaged wing spar and buckled firewall. The pilot's written statement given to the Federal Aviation Administration corroborated his accident report. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1805Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1805Y-2018-07-12), registration cancelled 2018-07-12, S/N 17249405, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172C - Registry model: [Cessna 172C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172c) (registry code 2072408) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17249405 - Year built: 1962 - Airframe hours: 2481 - Engines: Continental O-300-D-2-C 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Skipper R. Smith - Registered owner: Skipper R. Smith - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 24, 2014, 62 hours before - Departed: 66Y, Diamondhead, MS - Destination: NONE, Venice, LA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: NONE, Port Eads, runway 36, 2,200 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 2, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 10 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg ## 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 20150815022039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150815022039A), Aug 15, 2015: Cessna 172C, Port Eads, LA, Substantial damage. On approach to grass strip pilot landed hard nose gear broke off. Nose of aircraft hit the ground striking propeller. Tail came up in the air left wing tip… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 5, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91835. 5.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438540&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement to FAA (item 2, .PDF, 221 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438541&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement%20to%20FAA-Master.PDF - Google Map of Port Eads Airstrip, Venice, Louisiana (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 220 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438542&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Google%20Map%20of%20Port%20Eads%20Airstrip,%20Venice,%20Louisiana-Master.PDF - Photos (item 4, .PDF, 3 photos, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438543&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.