# NTSB CEN23LA097: Cessna 172L, N621EW, Cleveland, TX, January 29, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 29, 2023, 21:38, time zone not recorded - Place: Cleveland, TX · woods - Coordinates: 30.338417, -95.0255 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3384&lon=-95.0255&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 106657 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA097 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106657/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106657 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA097 ## Probable cause The pilot’s decision to attempt the night flight under visual flight rules when instrument meteorological conditions prevailed resulting in the airplane striking trees while on final approach. Contributing to the accident were the unserviceable runway lights at the destination airport. ## 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 172L, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072432), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [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 172L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=2072432), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Airport facilities/design: runway lighting](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017015): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 172L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017015/cases.md?model=2072432), [All aircraft, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172L, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072432), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The instrument-rated pilot was positioning the airplane in preparation for an annual inspection. The flight was conducted under night visual flight rules (VFR); however, instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed along the route of flight. The pilot reported that the cloud ceiling at the departure airport was about 700 ft above ground level (agl). The pilot inadvertently flew into clouds while en route and remained in instrument conditions for about 10 minutes. During the final approach the airplane descended below the clouds, but the pilot was unable to locate the airport and “saw only pitch black” with no visual references. The airplane subsequently struck trees shortly before the pilot intended to initiate a go-around. It subsequently came to rest nose down in a wooded area. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A Notice to Air Mission (NOTAM) pertaining to the destination airport indicated that the runway lights were unserviceable during the time of the accident flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N621EW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N621EW-2023-08-07), registration cancelled 2023-08-07, S/N 17260545, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172L - Registry model: [Cessna 172L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172l) (registry code 2072432) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17260545 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 6520 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 8, 2022, 84 hours before - Departed: T51, Cypress, TX - Destination: 6R3, Cleveland, TX - Airport: 6R3, Cleveland Municipal, runway 34, 5,001 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 18; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 6, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 329 total, 304 in this make and model, 219 as pilot in command, 58 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night - Wind: 340° at 9 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 300 ft overcast - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: KCXO, 20 nm away - METAR: METAR KCXO 300353Z AUTO 34009KT 4SM BR OVC003 10/10 A3011 ## 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 20230129000729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230129000729A), Jan 29, 2023: Cessna 172L, Cleveland, TX, Substantial damage. On January 29, 2023, at 2220 this office became aware of this accident when inspector [privacy data omitted] received a call from the FAA south west regional… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 15, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106657. 14.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 6.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15092276&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Rpt%20--%20CEN23LA097_redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 424 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15092188&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20--%20CEN23LA097-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (excerpts) (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 6.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15092374&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20--%20N621EW%20(Excerpts)_redacted-Rel.pdf - Surface weather observations -- conroe/north houston regional airport (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15092147&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WxHist%20--%20KCXO%20--%2029Jan2023-Rel.pdf - Surface weather observations -- david wayne hooks memorial airport (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 138 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15092286&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WxHist%20--%20KDWH%20--%2029Jan2023-Rel.pdf - NOTAM data -- cleveland municipal airport (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15092198&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NOTAM%20--%206R3_29Jan2023-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.