# NTSB CEN23LA176: Cessna 172P, N52602, Nacogdoches, TX, April 28, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 28, 2023, 14:11 local (19:11 UTC) - Place: Nacogdoches, TX - Coordinates: 31.576586, -94.710096 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.5766&lon=-94.7101&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): 114704 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA176 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/114704/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=114704 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA176 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## 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; cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072436), [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 · Student/instructed pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072436), [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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot stated he touched down and began to porpoise. The airplane began to slide to the right towards the runway edge. The student pilot’s attempt to stop was unsuccessful and the airplane exited the runway. During the runway excursion, the airplane nosed over which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N52602](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N52602), registered now, S/N 17274562, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17274562 - Year built: 1980 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Hutch Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Hutch Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: OCH, Nacogdoches A L Mangham Jr Rgnl, runway 18, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 36.3 total, 36.3 in this make and model, 36.3 in the last 90 days, 7.7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: KOCH - METAR: KOCH 281856Z AUTO 15007KT 10SM FEW002 24/16 A2982 RMK AO2 SLP101 T02390161 ## 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 20230428007219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230428007219A), Apr 28, 2023: Cessna 172P, Nacogdoches, TX, Substantial damage. While attempting a crosswind landing at Nacogdoches airport (och) the student pilot lost control of the airplane during rollout. When the airplane left the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 29, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=114704. 2.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15622148&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1.christopher_smith_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 929 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15654640&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.