# NTSB CEN23LA348: Cessna 172, N860TW, Philadelphia, PA, August 3, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 3, 2023, 10:52 local (14:52 UTC) - Place: Philadelphia, PA - Coordinates: 40.081911, -75.012372 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0819&lon=-75.0124&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 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 FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 192801 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA348 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192801/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192801 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA348 ## Probable cause The pilot receiving instruction’s failure to maintain control during a go-around. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 206 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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 172S, 66 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 49 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Other: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot receiving instruction reported that while on final approach, the airspeed became slow so he lowered the airplane nose to increase the airspeed. The airplane landed firmly at the runway threshold and bounced. During the recovery from the bounce, the flight instructor commanded a go-around maneuver. During the go-around, the airplane’s nose rose high, and the airplane yawed and rolled to the left. The airplane impacted the ground alongside the runway and nosed over. Post accident examination revealed that the vertical stabilizer, rudder, empennage, and left wing sustained substantial damage. There were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N860TW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N860TW), registered now, S/N 172S9220, built 2002 (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 IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S9220 - Year built: 2002 - Airframe hours: 6368 - Engines: Textron Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Tailwinds LLC, doing business as Tailwinds Flight School - Registered owner: Tailwinds LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 27, 2023 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: PNE, Northeast Philadelphia, runway 15, 4,999 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 76; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, unknown; last flight review October 31, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 7,674 total, 1,944 in this make and model, 7,345 as pilot in command, 69 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 34; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 16, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 305.7 total, 151.1 in this make and model, 210.5 as pilot in command, 11.7 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 6 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KPNE - METAR: KPNE 031454Z 20006G14KT 10SM CLR 25/16 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP199 T02500156 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 20230803011809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230803011809A), Aug 3, 2023: Cessna 172S, Philadelphia, PA, Substantial damage. While practicing a power-off 180 degree accuracy landing on runway 15 at Northeast Philadelphia Airport (kpne) on August 3, 2023 during a flight lesson, the… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 25, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192801. 6.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16503115&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1%20_Redacted%20locked-Rel.pdf - Witness statements from FAA (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 161 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16502827&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Faa%20Witness%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Witness statement to NTSB email (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 712 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16503287&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wittness%20email_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 278 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16503125&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Instructor pilot's statement (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 256 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16503867&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Instructor%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 6, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 363 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16508669&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN23LA348%20Photos-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.