# NTSB CHI05LA070: Cessna 172N, N2291E, Grafton, ND, February 10, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 10, 2005, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Grafton, ND - Coordinates: 48.404724, -97.371109 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.4047&lon=-97.3711&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA, Fargo FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 60992 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI05LA070 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60992/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05LA070 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions which resulted in a loss of directional control during the landing. Factors associated with the accident were the crosswind condition and the snow bank. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,nose gear - overload - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The airplane nosed over after colliding with a snow bank while landing on runway 35. The pilot stated he listened to the closest automated terminal information service (ATIS), located 30 miles away. He reported the winds were from 260 degrees at 16 knots. The pilot reported he checked the windsock prior to landing at his destination airport. He reported the windsock was indicating winds from the west. The pilot stated he made two go-arounds because the airplane was not lined up with the runway centerline. He stated that that after turning onto final approach on the third landing attempt, the airplane was "just a little on the upwind side of the runway centerline." He stated that after touching down, "the wind blew me off the side of the runway" and the airplane contacted a snow bank. The pilot reported the nose gear collapsed and the airplane nosed over. ## Factual narrative On February 10, 2005, at 1500 central standard time, a Cessna 172N, N2291E, operated by Park Rapids Aviation, collided with a snow bank and nosed over while landing on runway 35 (3,900 feet by 75 feet, dry asphalt) at the Grafton Municipal Airport (GAF), Grafton, North Dakota. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions and no flight plan was filed. The last departure point was the Crookston Municipal Airport (CKN), Crookston, Minnesota, at 1430. The pilot reported he received a flight service station (FSS) briefing prior to departing Park Rapids, Minnesota, earlier in the day. He stated that during the flight to GAF, he encountered snow showers so he decided to land at CKN and wait for the weather to pass. The pilot stated that after 15 - 30 minutes the weather passed so he continued the flight to GAF. The pilot stated that upon arriving at GAF, he listened to the automated terminal information system (ATIS) from the Grand Forks International Airport (GFK), located 30 miles to the south. He stated the ATIS was reporting winds from 260 degrees at 16 knots. The pilot stated the windsock at GAF was indicating winds from the west. He stated the winds were "maybe favoring" runway 35, which was the runway in use. The pilot stated he made two go-arounds because after turning onto final approach the airplane was not lined up with the runway centerline. He stated that on the third landing attempt, the airplane was "just a little on the upwind side of the runway centerline." He stated that after touchdown, "the wind blew me off the side of the runway" and the airplane contacted a snow bank. The pilot reported the nose gear collapsed and the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported the local winds at GFK were from 260 degrees at 16 knots. The winds reported at the Grand Forks International Airport (GFK), Grand Forks, North Dakota, at 1453, were from 280 degrees at 15 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2291E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2291E), registered now, S/N 17271224, built 1978 (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: 17271224 - Airframe hours: 4852 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Park Rapids Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 7, 2005, 4 hours before - Departed: CKN, Crookston, MN - Destination: GAF, Grafton, ND - Airport: GAF, Grafton Municipal, runway 35, 3,900 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review February 12, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 197 total, 120 in this make and model, 161 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: GFK, 33 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 20050210004469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050210004469A), Feb 10, 2005: Cessna 172N, Crafton, ND, Substantial damage. (-23) The private pilot began a flight from park rapids, MN (pkd) to crookston, MN (ckn) and then proceeded to Grafton, ND (gaf). On landing at Grafton on… ## Other investigations on N2291E (1) 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. - [NTSB MIA02LA158](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02LA158), Aug 25, 2002: Cessna 172N (N2291E), Tarboro, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the solo student to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll/run which resulted in the airplane veering off the runway and impacting trees, incurring… 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.