# NTSB CEN24LA123: Cessna 172, N35719, Clarion, IA, February 26, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: February 26, 2024, 14:50 local (20:50 UTC)
- Place: Clarion, IA
- Coordinates: 42.74031, -93.758926 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7403&lon=-93.7589&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- 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 Des Moines FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 193850
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA123
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193850/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193850
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA123

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing flare in a crosswind with gusts.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172I, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072426), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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 172I, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072426), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172I, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072426), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172I, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072426), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172I, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072426), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 172I, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072426), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 172I, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072426), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172I, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072426), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Cessna 172I, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2072426), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 172I, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072426), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)
- [Post-impact: Evacuation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460); cases with it: [Cessna 172I, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md?model=2072426), [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during landing at the destination airport, with the left and right main landing gear on the runway and the nose wheel elevated for the flare, she felt a gust of wind that “push[ed] the airplane suddenly to the right.” The pilot attempted to perform a go-around, however the airplane bounced twice, exited the runway to the right, impacted a dirt field, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, and the empennage. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing on runway 31 with wind 270° at 23 knots, and with gusts from 30 to 35 knots. The pilot further reported that the accident could have been prevented by having “better situational awareness” of the wind conditions at the destination airport.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N35719](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N35719), registered now, S/N 17256932, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (I)
- Registry model: [Cessna 172I](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172i) (registry code 2072426) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17256932
- Year built: 1968
- Airframe hours: 5447.7
- Engines: Lycoming Engines O-320-E2D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 16, 2024
- Departed: CBF, Council Bluffs, IA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: CAV, Clarion Muni, runway 14/32, 3,455 × 60 ft, concrete
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 30, 2023; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 102 total, 102 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 24 knots, gusting 32
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 29.35 inHg
- Observed at: KCAV
- METAR: KCAV 262055Z AUTO 24024G32KT 10SM CLR 24/M02 A2935 RMK A01

## 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 20240226001469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240226001469A), Feb 26, 2024: Cessna 172I, Clarion, IA, Substantial damage. Private pilot departed kcbf in rental aircraft for flight to kcav. Upon arrival AWOS was indicating wind gusts in excess of 30KTS. Pilot attempted to line up…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 16, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193850. 4.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16800586&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 839 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16800816&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-Rel.pdf
- Flightaware - information (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 161 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16800826&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FlightAware%20-%20Information-Rel.pdf
- Airplane owner - additional question (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 161 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16800661&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN24LA123%20(N35719,%20Cessna%20172I)%20-%20Additional%20Question_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Cessna 172I owner's manual - excerpt (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 110 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16800391&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Cessna%20172I%20Owner%27s%20Manual%20-%20Excerpt-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.

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