# NTSB DEN01LA160: Cessna 177RG, N52043, St. George, UT, September 8, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 8, 2001, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: St. George, UT - Coordinates: 37.180004, -113.600791 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1800&lon=-113.6008&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 20, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Salt Lake City FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53455 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN01LA160 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53455/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA160 ## Probable cause brake system failure for reasons undetermined, which resulted in a loss of control on landing. ## 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 - landing gear,normal brake system - failure (cause) - aircraft control - diminished, pilot in command(cfi) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - terrain condition - rock(s)/boulder(s) ## Analysis When the private pilot receiving instruction applied brakes after landing, only the right brake operated; the left brake pedal "went to the floor with no braking." The instructor took over and began pumping the brakes in an attempt to restore brake system pressure. The airplane went off the side of the runway, but he was able to return it to the runway. It went off the side of the runway again, slid on gravel, struck a rock and nosed over. Post accident examination revealed the right brake assembly was damaged, precluding a definitive assessment. ## Factual narrative On September 8, 2001, approximately 1400 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 177RG, N52043, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain and nosed over during landing roll at St. George, Utah. The flight instructor and the private pilot receveing instruction were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the instructional flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight departed St. George at 1330. According to the flight instructor's accident report, the landing was normal until the private pilot applied brakes to decelerate. He told the instructor that he was having a problem, and the instructor took control of the airplane. When the instructor applied pressure to the toe brakes, only the right brake operated; the left brake pedal "went to the floor with no braking." He then began pumping the brakes in an attempt to restore brake system pressure. The airplane went off the side of the runway, but the instructor was able to return it to the runway. It went off the side of the runway again, slid on gravel, struck a rock, and nosed over. According to an FAA inspector, two sets of skid marks were noted, one set was located just past the point where the airplane touched down, and the other where the airplane departed the runway. A mechanic was asked to examine the airplane's brake system. The airplane was up righted and placed on its landing gear. The right brake assembly was bent and the brake line was damaged, precluding a definitive assessment. Brake fluid had leaked out, and the reservoir was empty. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N52043](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N52043-2013-04-01), registration cancelled 2013-04-01, S/N 177RG1149, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 177RG - Registry model: [Cessna 177RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177rg) (registry code 2073709) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-a1b6d) (registry code 41593, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 177RG1149 - Airframe hours: 4933 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: David K. Houston - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, August 30, 2001, 9 hours before - Departed: SGU, St. George, UT - Destination: SGU, St. George, UT - Airport: SGU, St. George Municipal, runway 16, 6,606 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 29; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review July 31, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 915 total, 50 in this make and model, 840 as pilot in command, 240 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 27; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 23, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 57 total, 17 as pilot in command, 57 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: SGU ## 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 20010908025789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010908025789A), Sep 8, 2001: Cessna 177RG, Saint George, UT, No damage. (.19) On September 8, 2001, at 1400 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 177RG, N52043, departed the west side of runway 16/34 at st. George, Utah, during 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.