# NTSB DEN02LA025: Cessna 172N, N4642J, Durango, CO, February 17, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 17, 2002, 09:20 local (16:20 UTC) - Place: Durango, CO - Coordinates: 37.269115, -107.879653 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2691&lon=-107.8797&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 25, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 54205 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN02LA025 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54205/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54205 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02LA025 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Contributing factors were the crosswind and the pilot's fatigue from lack of sleep. ## 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 - fatigue(lack of sleep), pilot in command (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - dirt bank/rising embankment ## Analysis The pilot said that during a touch and go landing on runway 19, he overcorrected for a slight right crosswind, and the airplane went off the right side of the runway. It struck a pile of dirt, and the left main gear collapsed. The airplane then crossed the runway and came to rest on the east side. The pilot said, "I had slept poorly the previous two nights and in retrospect, I believe fatigue was a significant factor in this accident." ## Factual narrative On February 17, 2002, approximately 0920 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172N, N4642J, was substantially damaged when it struck terrain following a loss on control during landing at Animas Air Park, Durango, Colorado. The student pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local training flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated approximately 0900. According to the pilot's accident report, he made one touch and go landing on runway 19. On the second touch and go landing, he overcorrected for a slight right crosswind. The airplane departed the right (west) side of the runway and struck a 3 foot tall pile of dirt, and the left main gear collapsed. The airplane traveled back across the runway and came to rest on the east side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the underside of the fuselage, left horizontal stabilizer, and elevator. In addition, two runway lights were broken. The pilot said, "I had slept poorly the previous two nights and in retrospect, I believe fatigue was a significant factor in this accident." At 0953, the recorded wind condition at Durango-La Plata County Airport, Durango, Colorado, located 8 miles southeast of the accident site, was 100 degrees, at 4 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4642J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4642J-2019-05-20), registration cancelled 2019-05-20, S/N 17273658, built 1979 (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: 17273658 - Airframe hours: 9331 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gregg Flying Sevice - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 5, 2002, 14 hours before - Departed: 00C, Durango, CO - Destination: 00C, Durango, CO - Airport: 00C, Animas Air Park, runway 19, 5,010 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 34; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 38 total, 30 in this make and model, 10 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: DRO ## 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 20020217003229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020217003229A), Feb 17, 2002: Cessna 172N, Durango, CO, No damage. (-23) On February 17. 2002, at approximately 0920 MST a Cessna 172N, N4642J, was substantially damaged during landing at animas air park, Durango, Colorado.… ## Other investigations on N4642J (3) 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 GAA19CA081](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA081), Nov 12, 2018: Cessna 172 (N4642J), Inverness, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot receiving instruction's failure to maintain directional control during landing. - [NTSB DEN00LA129](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA129), Jun 30, 2000: Cessna 172N (N4642J), Durango, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot prematurely flaring the airplane for landing, resulting in a hard landing, followed by an inadvertent pilot-induced porpoise and loss of directional control. A factor was the fence. - [NTSB DEN82DA164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN82DA164), Aug 16, 1982: Cessna 172N (N4642J), Durango, CO, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 3, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54205. 378 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 278 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387306&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40155276&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF 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.