# NTSB CEN18LA056: Cessna 172N, N734VH, Maple Lake, MN, November 22, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 22, 2017, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Maple Lake, MN - Coordinates: 45.23611, -93.985557 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.2361&lon=-93.9856&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: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 28, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 96500 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18LA056 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96500/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96500 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA056 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing, which resulted in a runway excursion. ## 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 172N, 82 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 150 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072434), [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-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 81 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072434), [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 172N, 81 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he had a "rough landing" and the "right rear strut wheel broke." Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane touched down on the runway, and skid marks were found on the runway and grass infield. The airplane exited the runway, crossed over a taxiway, impacted a rock drainage revetment, and then impacted a hangar about 2,100 ft from the touchdown point. The landing gear strut did not separate from the airplane until about 100 ft before impact with the hangar. Examination of the airplane wreckage did not reveal any preimpact malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Thus, the pilot likely failed to maintain directional control while landing, which resulted in a runway excursion. ## Factual narrative On November 22, 2017, about 1200 central standard time, a Cessna 172N airplane, N734VH, registered to a private individual, was substantially damaged after a landing gear collapse and runway excursion at the Maple Lake Municipal Airport (MGG), Maple Lake, Minnesota. The pilot and 2 passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight originated at 1100 from the Cumberland Municipal Airport (UMB), Cumberland, Wisconsin. The pilot initially reported that while landing on runway 28, he had a "rough landing," the "right rear strut wheel broke," and the airplane skidded into a hangar. Examination of the accident site and aircraft by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the airplane touched down on runway 28 and slid onto the grass infield about 1,000 feet beyond the touchdown point. The aircraft crossed over a taxiway, impacted a rock drainage revetment, and then impacted a hangar. The total distance traveled by the airplane was about 2,100 feet from touchdown to impact with the hangar. Skid marks on the runway and grass correlated to the airplane's path during the excursion and evidence at the site showed that the landing gear strut separated from the airplane about 100-feet prior to impact with the hangar. Examination of the airplane wreckage did not reveal any pre-impact anomalies. The pilot did not provide any additional information or an NTSB Form 6120. Figure 1. Approximate Location of Touchdown and Impact with Hangar ## Aircraft - Registration: [N734VH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N734VH-2019-06-12), registration cancelled 2019-06-12, S/N 17269145, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N (N) - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17269145 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 7980 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2016, 2 hours before - Departed: UMB, Cumberland, WI - Destination: MGG, Maple Lake, MN - Airport: MGG, Maple Lake Municipal, runway 28, 2,796 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review August 1, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 120 total, 100 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken - Temperature: 23 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: MGG ## 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 20171122019729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171122019729A), Nov 22, 2017: Cessna 172N, Maple Lake, MN, Substantial damage. Pilot landed on numbers and traversed a ways down the airport runway, then across grassways, taxiway, and ramp for 2200+ feet before impacting hangar. No… ## Other investigations on N734VH (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 DEN89LA212](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89LA212), Sep 7, 1989: Cessna 172N (N734VH), Burlington, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: IMPROPER USE OF THE RUDDER BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE SOFT TERRAIN WAS A RELATED FACTOR. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 27, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96500. 2.9 MB in all. - Memorandum for the Record Pilot Information (item 1, .PDF, 695 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479416&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Pilot%20Information-Master.PDF - Memorandum for the Record FAA Inspector Information (item 2, .PDF, 189 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479417&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20FAA%20Inspector%20Information-Master.PDF - Image of Approximate Tounchdown Area and Hangar (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 441 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479418&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Image%20of%20Approximate%20Tounchdown%20Area%20and%20Hangar-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 4, .PDF, 4 photos, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479419&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.