# NTSB CHI07CA074: Cessna 172S, N270JA, St. Louis, MO, February 16, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 16, 2007, 17:15 local (23:15 UTC) - Place: St. Louis, MO - Coordinates: 38.661945, -90.651947 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6619&lon=-90.6519&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, St. Louis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 65356 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI07CA074 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65356/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07CA074 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and failure to maintain directional control. Factors were the gusting crosswind conditions and the snow covered ground. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (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 - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane departed the left edge of the runway and impacted snow covered terrain while landing on runway 8L (5,000 feet by 75 feet, asphalt). The pilot reported that upon touchdown "the airplane started skidding to the left" and that the "left wheel was shaking violently." The pilot stated he "applied right rudder and right brake aggressively" in an effort to keep the airplane on the runway. The pilot reported the airplane departed the runway onto snow covered ground. The pilot stated the airplane sunk through a hard layer of snow, causing the propeller to strike the ground and the left wing to "hit the snow." The wind conditions at the time of the accident were from 170 degrees magnetic at 13 knots, gusting to 18 knots. ## Factual narrative The airplane departed the left edge of the runway and impacted snow covered terrain while landing on runway 8L (5,000 feet by 75 feet, asphalt). The pilot reported that upon touchdown "the airplane started skidding to the left" and that the "left wheel was shaking violently." The pilot stated he "applied right rudder and right brake aggressively" in an effort to keep the airplane on the runway. The pilot reported the airplane departed the runway onto snow covered ground. The pilot stated the airplane sunk through a hard layer of snow, causing the propeller to strike the ground and the left wing to "hit the snow." The wind conditions at the time of the accident were from 170 degrees magnetic at 13 knots, gusting to 18 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N270JA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N270JA), registered now, S/N 172S8619, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172S - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S8619 - Airframe hours: 4009 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Bunnell Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2007 - Departed: MO6, Washington, MO - Destination: SUS, St. Louis, MO - Airport: SUS, Spirit of St. Louis, runway 8L, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 138 total, 111 in this make and model, 22 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 170° at 13 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 10 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: SUS ## 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 20070216002609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070216002609A), Feb 16, 2007: Cessna 172S, St Louis, MO, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot was attempting a landing on rwy 8L at Spirit of saint Louis airport (sus) on 2-16-07 at 1712. The winds were crosswind to the runway at 170… 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.