# NTSB CHI99LA071: Cessna 172R, N4172P, Chesterfield, MO, January 20, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 19, 1999, 18:30 local (Jan 20, 1999, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Chesterfield, MO - Coordinates: 38.650566, -90.530967 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6506&lon=-90.5310&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 18, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45630 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI99LA071 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45630/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA071 ## Probable cause the instructor pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. Factors contributing to this accident were the snow covered grassy field area along the side of the runway and the pile of snow. ## 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 - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - grass (contributing factor) - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor) ## Analysis The instructor pilot said that he took control of the airplane approximately 200 feet prior to the taxiway and began applying brake pressure to slow down. As the airplane approached the taxiway, the instructor said that the airplane 'gradually deviated to the left of the runway centerline.' The instructor said that he applied right rudder pedal and then the right brake. There was no braking response. The instructor said that he 'applied full right brake' and found that 'the right brake had no response or pressure and could be applied to its full limit with no resistance felt.' The airplane's left main gear departed the edge of the runway and rolled into the snow. The airplane pivoted counter-clockwise until the nose gear contacted a 2 foot thick pile of snow. The airplane tipped forward and right onto the nose gear and right main landing gear causing the right wing to strike the ground. Examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative On January 19, 1999, at 1830 central standard time (cst), a Cessna 172R, N4172P, operated by a commercial pilot sustained substantial damage when following landing and turning on to the taxiway from runway 26R at Spirit of St. Louis Airport, Chesterfield, Missouri, the airplane veered off of the prepared surface into muddy terrain. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The instructional flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. There was no flight plan on file. The instructor pilot and dual student reported no injuries. The local flight originated at Chesterfield, Missouri, at 1627 cst. In his written statement, the instructor pilot said that after having performed five previous touch-and-go landings, at Spirit of St. Louis Airport, the student pilot was going to perform the next traffic pattern approach and landing to a full stop. The airplane touched down without incident on runway 26R, 400 feet prior to taxiway Echo 3. The instructor pilot said that it was decided that they would proceed past Echo 3 and turn off of the runway at taxiway C. About 200 feet past taxiway Echo 3, the student pilot told the instructor that he could not see where to turn onto taxiway C. The instructor pilot said that he took control of the airplane approximately 200 feet prior to taxiway C, and began applying brake pressure to slow down. As the airplane approached the taxiway, the instructor said that the airplane "gradually deviated to the left of the runway centerline." The instructor said that he applied right rudder pedal and then the right brake. There was no braking response. The instructor said that he "applied full right brake" and found that "the right brake had no response or pressure and could be applied to its full limit with no resistance felt." The airplane's left main gear departed the edge of the runway and rolled into the snow. The airplane pivoted counter-clockwise until the nose gear contacted a 2 foot thick pile of snow. The airplane tipped forward and right onto the nose gear and right main landing gear causing the outboard 15 inches of the right wing's leading edge to strike the ground. The airplane then righted itself onto all three landing gear. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane at Spirit of St. Louis Airport. Part of the airplane's nose gear pant was broken off. The outboard right wing leading edge and forward spar were bent upward approximately 30 degrees, and aft, beginning 15 inches inboard of the wing tip. One propeller blade tip showed leading edge nicks. Flight control continuity was confirmed. The airplane's brake system revealed no anomalies. Examination of the engine, engine controls, and other airplane systems also revealed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4172P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4172P), registered now, S/N 17280288, built 1997 (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 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17280288 - Airframe hours: 242 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-22A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Thunder Aviation Aquisitions - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 31, 1998, 59 hours before - Departed: SUS - Airport: SUS, Spirit Of St. Louis, runway 26R, 3,800 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 570 total, 200 in this make and model, 490 as pilot in command, 119 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SUS, 1 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 19990120044849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990120044849A), Jan 20, 1999: Cessna 172R, St Louis, MO, No damage. (-23) Flight instructor conducting dual instruction alnded the a/c on runway 26R at Spirit of st. Louis airport (sus). As he applied brakes to slow down and… ## Other investigations on N4172P (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 NYC08CA314](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA314), Sep 16, 2008: Cessna 172R (N4172P), Brunswick, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's improper flare while landing. 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.