# NTSB CEN22LA014: Cessna 172R, N24783, Chesterfield, MO, October 9, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 9, 2021, 12:40 local (17:40 UTC) - Place: Chesterfield, MO - Coordinates: 38.662646, -90.649695 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6626&lon=-90.6497&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 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): 104102 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA014 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104102/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104102 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA014 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane while landing in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing and the nose landing gear collapsing. . ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/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 172R, 75 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072401), [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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he’d entered the traffic pattern on a left downwind as requested by air traffic control for runway 26R with a reported wind from 210° at 8 knots with gusts to 17 knots. As the airplane crossed of the runway numbers about 30 ft above ground level, the airplane encountered a wind gust. The pilot applied left aileron to counter the wind gust and maintain runway centerline. Shortly thereafter, the wind gust dissipated, and the airplane abruptly dropped to the runway surface. The left main landing gear struck the runway, and the airplane bounced to the right. The airplane’s nose landing gear then impacted the runway and collapsed. The airplane exited the right side of the runway and came to rest upright in the grass. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower forward fuselage and engine firewall, and the pilot was not injured. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N24783](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N24783), registered now, S/N 17281029, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172R - Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17281029 - Year built: 2001 - Airframe hours: 4276.9 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Elite Approach LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 10, 2021, 55.6 hours before - Departed: FYG, Washington, MO - Airport: SUS, Spirit Of St Louis, runway 08L/26R, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 5, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 290 total, 191 in this make and model, 72 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 1.4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 11 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: KSUS - METAR: KSUS 091754Z 19011G16KT 10SM CLR 29/17 A2984 RMK AO2 SLP099 T02940172 10300 20161 58012 ## 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 20211009018059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211009018059A), Oct 9, 2021: Cessna 172R, Chesterfield, MO, Substantial damage. PIC was landing N24783 (Cessna C-172) on runway 26R at Spirit of st. Louis airport (ksus). The aircraft touched down onto the runway 26R, veered off runway 26R… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 18, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104102. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12822802&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Nardulli.N24783.10.9.2021_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 820 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12822261&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.