# NTSB CHI01LA081: Cessna 172RG, N369ER, Troy, MI, February 3, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 3, 2001, 11:10 local (16:10 UTC) - Place: Troy, MI - Coordinates: 42.559158, -83.179161 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5592&lon=-83.1792&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 21, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 51706 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI01LA081 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51706/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA081 ## Probable cause the excessive touchdown airspeed and the directional control not maintained by the pilot. The snow bank was a contributing factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - airspeed(vso) - excessive, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - snowbank (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing ## Analysis The airplane veered into a snowbank after touching down on the runway at approximately 27 knots above the stall speed with an 8 knot crosswind component. The pilot stated that he probably had too much left airleron and not enough right rudder to keep centered on landing rollout. ## Factual narrative On February 3, 2001, at 1110 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172RG, N369ER, owned and piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a loss of directional control while landing on runway 27 (3,550 feet by 60 feet, asphalt) at the Oakland/Troy Airport (7D2), Troy, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personnel flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The local flight originated from the Ann Arbor Municipal Airport, Ann Arbor, Michigan at 1050. The pilot reported, "...At 7D2, I was on a normal 1 1/2 - 2 mile final approach for Rwy 27 with a 10 kt x-wind out of 210 degrees (approx). Full flaps (30 degrees) were deployed and I touched down near threshold on runway centerline at about 65-70 knots. I was holding left aileron and attempting to track rwy centerline with right rudder. A few seconds after touchdown I found myself drifting to the left and left main gear wheel entered and became entrapped in adjacent 12-15 inch snowbank. This caused the aircraft to veer counterclockwise to the left as in a ground loop and the nose entered and impacted the frozen snowbank bringing the engine/propeller to a sudden stop. Final attitude was about 20 degrees nose down. I probably had too much left aileron and not enough right rudder to keep centered on landing rollout or did not compensate for changing wind conditions fast enough. There may have been some light gusts or wind shear due to adjacent structures. In any event, not enough concentration". The Oakland County Airport automated surface observing system, located approximately 13 nm on a 305 degree heading from7D2 record at 1053, wind 216 degrees at 8 knots. The pilot reported a total flight time of 136 hours of which 53 were in the make and model of the accident airplane. He had flown 33 hours in the previous 90 days. Advisory Circular 61-21A, Flight Training Handbook, states, "...The roundout and touchdown should be made with the engine idling, and the airplane at minimum controllable airspeed, so that the airplane will touchdown on the main gear at approximately stalling speed..." The Cessna 172RG stall speed at maximum gross weight with the landing gear and flaps extended is 39 KIAS with a most rearward center of gravity (CG) and 42 KIAS with a most forward CG. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N369ER](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N369ER), registered now, S/N 172RG0062 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172RG - Registry model: [Cessna 172RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172rg) (registry code 2072438) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172RG0062 - Airframe hours: 1761 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-F1A6 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Paul N. Blumberg - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 18, 2000, 51 hours before - Departed: ARB, ANN ARBOR, MI - Destination: 7D2, Troy, MI - Airport: 7D2, Oakland/Troy Airport, runway 27, 3,550 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 9, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 136 total, 53 in this make and model, 90 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 216° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 18 °F, dew point 7 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: PTK, 13 nm away ## 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 20010203006909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010203006909A), Feb 3, 2001: Cessna 172, Troy, MI, No damage. (.19) On February 3, 2001, at 1110 EST, a Cessna 172RG, N369ER, owned and piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a loss of directional… 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.