# NTSB CEN24LA071: Cessna 172N, N4501E, Stephenville, TX, December 17, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 17, 2023, 10:46 local (16:46 UTC) - Place: Stephenville, TX - Coordinates: 32.23063, -98.173341 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2306&lon=-98.1733&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: 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/Federal Aviation North Texas FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 193565 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA071 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193565/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193565 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA071 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing that resulted in an impact with terrain. ## 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 (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 82 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072434), [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-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 81 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072434), [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 172N, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 81 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 134 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot stated that when he entered the destination airport traffic pattern for landing, there were strong wind gusts that were not on the automated weather observing system report. He said the airplane’s descent during the approach was stable, so he decided to continue the approach for landing. He said that shortly after the airplane’s nose wheel landing gear touched down on the runway, the airplane caught a strong wind gust that resulted in a weathervane effect and a sharp change in its direction to the right. He then applied left rudder control input, but the airplane veered to the right and off the runway where it impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot stated there was no preaccident failures or malfunctions the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4501E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4501E), registered now, S/N 17271614 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17271614 - Year built: 1978 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Optima Aviation LLC DBA N4501E, doing business as Go Fly Texas - Registered owner: Optima Aviation LLC DBA N4501E - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2023, 5,566.9 hours before - Departed: 52F, Roanoke, TX - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: SEP, Stephenville Clark Regional Airport, runway 14, 4,209 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Onboard weather, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 20; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 41 total, 4 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 11 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: SEP ## 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 20231217021639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231217021639A), Dec 17, 2023: Cessna 172N, Stephenville, TX, Substantial damage. This student pilot was practicing cross wind landings at sep runway 14. The pilot encountered a southwest crosswind. The wind was skidding the airplane… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 21, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193565. 8.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 submitted by pilot (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16730395&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120-1%20Wade%20Jensen%20N4501E%20by%20Pilot%20Master_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 submitted by goflytexas (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16729493&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20by%20operator_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation - pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 79 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16730267&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20with%20pilot-Rel.pdf - Record of correspondence - pilot (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16735770&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Correspodence%20-%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Airport report (item 5, PDF, 12 pages, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16746088&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airport%20Incident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 6, PDF, 3 pages, 346 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16741533&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Template-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.