# NTSB CEN22LA173: Cessna 172M, N1141U, Tomball, TX, April 8, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 8, 2022, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Tomball, TX - Coordinates: 30.061779, -95.552788 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0618&lon=-95.5528&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - 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 - Houston FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 104931 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA173 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104931/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104931 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA173 ## Probable cause The pilot did not maintain directional control during landing, which led to a runway excursion and nose-over of the airplane. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [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) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 123 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072418), [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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); 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 pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to gain experience operating the airplane in crosswind conditions. During landing, when the airplane was about 20 feet above the ground, a wind gust arrested the descent and pushed the airplane to the right of the runway centerline. The pilot corrected for the drift and re-established alignment with the runway centerline. When the airplane was a few feet above the runway, another wind gust resulted in the airplane contacting the runway with the left main landing gear. The pilot corrected with right rudder, but the side loading of the landing gear had altered the airplane’s runway alignment to the left and it went off the left side of the runway. The pilot attempted to correct with right rudder and right braking, but the nose wheel sunk into wet ground and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot indicated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. The pilot reported that the wind condition at the time of the landing was about 50 degrees left of runway heading at 13 kts gusting to 23 kts. The recorded weather observation about the time of the accident recorded wind about 20 degrees left of runway heading at 8 kts, gusting to 21 kts. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1141U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1141U), registered now, S/N 17266870, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17266870 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 12220 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Flight School Inc - Registered owner: Flight School Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 4, 2022 - Airport: DWH, David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport, runway 35L, 7,009 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 5, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 84 total, 6 in this make and model, 38 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 8 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: KDWH - METAR: METAR KDWH 082253Z AUTO 33008G21KT 10SM CLR 23/M03 A3010 RMK AO2 PK WND 31026/2227 SLP191 T02281033= ## 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 20220408005179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220408005179A), Apr 8, 2022: Cessna 172M, Spring, TX, Substantial damage. An individual was landings at dwh on 4/8/22 when he lost control of the aircraft and departed the runway. The pilot had ~90 total hours and stated that the… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 22, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104931. 5.2 MB in all. - Accident photos (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13808477&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%20Photo%20array%20template-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 9 pages, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13808610&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N1141U%20NTSB%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 224 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13808620&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N1141U%20-%20Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Weather information (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13809789&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=METARS-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.