# NTSB CHI05CA090: Cessna 172R, N985BT, Kalamazoo, MI, April 7, 2005

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 7, 2005, 12:15 local (16:15 UTC)
- Place: Kalamazoo, MI
- Coordinates: 42.234722, -85.55194
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2347&lon=-85.5519&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 61502
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI05CA090
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61502/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05CA090

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control and the excessive taxispeed.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, taxi - from landing
  - taxispeed - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi - from landing
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

The airplane impacted terrain during an after landing taxiway excursion during a student solo flight.   The student pilot stated that this was her first solo flight and during her first landing she exited the runway at "high speeds" and "almost flipped" the airplane.  She stated that she tried correcting this and lost control of the airplane.

## Factual narrative

On April 7, 2005, at 1215 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172R, N985BT, operated by Western Michigan University as an instructional airplane, impacted terrain during an after landing taxi on runway 05 (3,436 feet by 100 feet, grooved asphalt) at Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport, Kalamazoo, Michigan.  Visual meteorological condition prevailed at the time of the accident.  The 14 CFR Part 141 student solo flight was not operating on a flight plan.  The student pilot was uninjured.  The local flight originated from AZO at 1115.

The student pilot stated that this was her first solo flight and during her first landing she exited the runway at "high speeds" and "almost flipped" the airplane.  She stated that she tried correcting this and lost control of the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N985BT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N985BT-2011-08-18), registration cancelled 2011-08-18, S/N 17280442, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172R
- Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17280442
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Western Michigan University
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: AZO, Kalamazoo, MI
- Destination: AZO, Kalamazoo, MI

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 20; student; medical: class 1; flight hours: 21 total, 21 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

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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