# NTSB CEN20CA195: Cessna 172, N365CP, Houma, LA, May 21, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 21, 2020, 14:20 local (19:20 UTC) - Place: Houma, LA - Coordinates: 29.566389, -90.660552 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5664&lon=-90.6606&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 101330 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA195 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101330/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101330 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA195 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from a ground obstacle during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: runway/taxi/approach light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 106 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/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: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot and passenger were returning to the airport after completing the pipeline patrol. As the airplane approached the airport, the pilot listened to the recorded weather and contacted the air traffic control tower. The reported wind was steady at 12 to 15 kts from 170°. The pilot was cleared to land on runway 18, and the pilot stated that he "set up for a short field landing in order to make the first taxiway on the right." He said that just before getting to the threshold of the runway, the wind "either quit or abruptly reduced" and the plane started to "sink" rapidly. The pilot thought he had cleared the runway threshold lights and added "a little" back pressure on the flight control yolk. The airplane's left horizontal stabilizer struck a runway threshold light resulting in substantial damage. The pilot indicated that there were no airplane mechanical malfunctions with the airplane during the flight. ## Factual narrative The commercial pilot and passenger were returning to the airport after completing the pipeline patrol. As the airplane approached the airport, the pilot listened to the recorded weather and contacted the air traffic control tower. The reported wind was steady at 12 to 15 kts from 170°. The pilot was cleared to land on runway 18, and the pilot stated that he "set up for a short field landing in order to make the first taxiway on the right." He said that just before getting to the threshold of the runway, the wind "either quit or abruptly reduced" and the plane started to "sink" rapidly. The pilot thought he had cleared the runway threshold lights and added "a little" back pressure on the flight control yolk. The airplane's left horizontal stabilizer struck a runway threshold light resulting in substantial damage. The pilot indicated that there were no airplane mechanical malfunctions with the airplane during the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N365CP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N365CP), registered now, S/N 172S8838, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 (S) - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S8838 - Year built: 2001 - Airframe hours: 12139.2 - Engines: Lycoming IO360 L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Operator: Barr Air Patrol Llc - Registered owner: Barr Air Patrol Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 9, 2020 - Departed: HUM, Houma, LA - Destination: HUM, Houma, LA - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: HUM, Houma-Terrebonne, runway 18, 6,508 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 21, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 6,716.8 total, 2,498.6 in this make and model, 6,132.3 as pilot in command, 181 in the last 90 days, 64.9 in the last 30 days, 3.5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 6 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KHUM ## 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 20200521010449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200521010449A), May 21, 2020: Cessna 172S, Houma, LA, Substantial damage. Pilot indicated he was landing short in order to make the first turn off from the runway. He stated the aircraft began to settle near touchdown position. At… ## Other investigations on N365CP (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 CEN21LA268](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA268), Jun 10, 2021: Cessna 172S (N365CP), Saint James, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The in-flight fatigue failure of an air-conditioning system hose which resulted in a precautionary landing and impact with a road sign. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101330. 10.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 10.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10020418&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN20CA195%20Houma%20Completed%206120%20w%20blocks2_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 298 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10020236&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN20CA195%20Photos%20for%20Docket-Rel.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.