# NTSB CHI04CA113: Cessna 172K, N7448G, Harrisonville, MO, May 1, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 1, 2004, 09:45 local (14:45 UTC) - Place: Harrisonville, MO - Coordinates: 38.61111, -94.342224 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6111&lon=-94.3422&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Kansas City FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59217 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04CA113 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59217/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04CA113 ## Probable cause The dual student's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the landing flare. Contributing factors were the dual student's failure to relinquish the controls to the flight instructor, the resulting inability of the flight instructor to implement any remedial action, and the ditch. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - directional control - not maintained, dual student (cause) - relinquishing of control - not performed, dual student (contributing factor) - remedial action - not possible, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ground - Nose over, landing ## Analysis The airplane was substantially damaged when it departed runway 35 during landing, encountered a ditch adjacent to the runway and nosed over. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and dual student were practicing takeoffs and landings during the local instructional flight. The CFI stated that he requested the student to hold the aircraft in the landing flare "longer so that he could get a proper feel and visual picture." During the flare the aircraft began to drift to the right. He requested that the student correct back toward the centerline, at which point the student banked to the left and applied left rudder. The CFI stated "My flight controls" to the student and applied right rudder. However, the student apparently did not hear him because the student maintained left rudder input, overpowering the CFI. The CFI recalled that the aircraft contacted the runway with the left main wheel and "veered" to the left. The aircraft departed the runway pavement, struck a ditch adjacent to the runway and nosed over. The student stated that the CFI was "always good about saying 'My flight controls' and likely stated this. However, I believe I . . . did not relinquish [the] controls to [the] instructor." He recalled: "I applied rudder(s), I applied brake and I recall my hand(s) on [the] yoke towards impact point." He commented that he was "much bigger" than the CFI. The CFI reported that there were no failures or malfunctions associated with the aircraft prior to the accident. Wind conditions recorded at the airport about ten minutes prior to the accident were from 350 degrees at 6 knots. ## Factual narrative On May 1, 2004, about 0945 central daylight time, a Cessna 172K, N7448G, piloted by a flight instructor and a dual student, was substantially damaged when it departed runway 35 (4,000 feet by 75 feet, asphalt) during landing at the Lawrence Smith Memorial Airport (LRY), Harrisonville, Missouri. The aircraft subsequently encountered a ditch and nosed over. The instructional flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight instructor reported minor injuries and the dual student reported no injuries. The local flight departed LRY approximately 0900. In his written statement, the flight instructor reported that the dual student had completed three landings with his assistance and that he had made one landing as a demonstration. The CFI stated that on the next approach he requested that the student hold the aircraft in the landing flare "longer so that he could get a proper feel and visual picture." The CFI noted that during the flare the aircraft began to drift to the right. He requested that the student correct back toward the centerline, at which point the student banked to the left and applied left rudder. The CFI stated "My flight controls" to the student and applied right rudder. However, the dual student apparently did not hear him because the student maintained left rudder input, overpowering the CFI. The CFI recalled that the aircraft contacted the runway with the left main wheel and "veered" to the left. The aircraft subsequently departed the runway pavement, struck a ditch adjacent to the runway and nosed over. The dual student reported that during the landing flare, the aircraft drifted to the right. He reportedly applied left rudder and the aircraft corrected. He stated that as the aircraft approached the runway centerline, he applied right rudder. However, the aircraft did not respond but continued toward the left side of the runway. He recalled that he applied right brake in an attempt to remain on the runway. The student stated that these efforts were not successful and the aircraft departed the left side of the runway and nosed over after encountering the ditch adjacent to the runway. The student stated that the CFI was "always good about saying 'My flight controls' and likely stated this. However, I believe I . . . did not relinquish [the] controls to [the] instructor." He recalled: "I applied rudder(s), I applied brake and I recall my hand(s) on [the] yoke towards impact point." He commented that he was "much bigger" than the CFI. The CFI reported that there were no failures or malfunctions associated with the aircraft prior to the accident. The LRY Automated Weather Observing System recorded the following wind conditions: At 0755, winds from 350 degrees at 9 knots; At 0855, winds from 030 degrees at 7 knots; At 0955, winds from 350 degrees at 6 knots; At 1055, winds from 010 degrees at 9 knots; At 1155, winds from 020 degrees at 7 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7448G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7448G-2009-03-12), registration cancelled 2009-03-12, S/N 17259148, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172K - Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17259148 - Airframe hours: 5382.9 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: T&C Aviation Enterprises Inc., doing business as Air Associates of Kansas - Registered owner: T&C Aviation Enterprises Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 23, 2004, 16.2 hours before - Departed: LRY, Harrisonville, MO - Destination: LRY - Airport: LRY, Lawrence Smith Memorial, runway 35, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 22; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; last flight review March 15, 2004; seat: right; flight hours: 1,156 total, 199 in this make and model, 992 as pilot in command, 97 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 44; injuries: none; seat: left; flight hours: 9 total, 9 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: LRY ## 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 20040501012269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040501012269A), May 1, 2004: Cessna 172K, Harrisonville, MO, Substantial damage. (-23) Flight instructor conducting training for student pilot in takeoff and landing maneuvers. Student pilot lost control and instructor failed to recover… 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.