# NTSB CEN16CA070: Cessna 172, N1180U, Rush City, MN, November 20, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 20, 2015, 13:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Rush City, MN - Coordinates: 45.698055, -92.951667 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6981&lon=-92.9517&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 8, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Minneapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 92500 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16CA070 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92500/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92500 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16CA070 ## Probable cause The student pilot did not maintain directional control of the airplane and applied excessive right rudder during landing. ## 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 172M, 59 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2072418), [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-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot was completing his first solo flight and had already done eight takeoffs and landings. On the ninth landing, the airspeed was higher than normal and the airplane porpoised. When the airplane touched down the student pilot applied excessive right rudder. The airplane veered right and departed the right side of the runway into the soft wet ground. The airplane nosed into the mud and then came to rest upright. The left wing impacted the ground and was substantially damaged. The operator reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The student pilot was completing his first solo flight and had already done eight takeoffs and landings. On the ninth landing, the airspeed was higher than normal and the airplane porpoised. When the airplane touched down the student pilot applied excessive right rudder. The airplane veered right and departed the right side of the runway into the soft wet ground. The airplane nosed into the mud and then came to rest upright. The left wing impacted the ground and was substantially damaged. The operator reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1180U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1180U), registered now, S/N 17266881 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (M) - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17266881 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 9569.1 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Hawk Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Hawk Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 27, 2015, 36 hours before - Departed: ROS, Rush City, MN - Destination: ROS, Rush City, MN - Airport: ROS, Rush City Rgnl, runway 34, 4,397 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 53; injuries: none; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 25 total, 22 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: KROS ## 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 20151120021049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151120021049A), Nov 20, 2015: Cessna 172M, Rush City, MN, Substantial damage. Student pilot was on first solo flight. On 9th landing, aircraft departed right side of runway shortly after landing. Aircraft sunk into soft ground and tipped… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 12, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92500. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40435506&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photos (item 2, .PDF, 3 photos, 712 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40435507&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.