# NTSB DEN02LA045: Cessna 172K, N78760, Cedar City, UT, May 22, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 22, 2002, 17:15 local (23:15 UTC) - Place: Cedar City, UT - Coordinates: 37.70111, -113.097221 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7011&lon=-113.0972&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 1, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 54762 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN02LA045 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54762/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54762 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02LA045 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadvertent stall/mush during the landing flare/touchdown. A contributing factor was the gusty crosswind weather conditions. ## Analysis The pilot said that he was in the landing flare, and the stall horn was sounding. He said a gust of wind from the right "caught" him and the airplane was forced airborne again. The pilot said the wind gust stopped and the airplane "slammed" down onto the runway. The firewall and engine mount were bent, and the main landing gear box assembly and left door frame were distorted/bent. ## Factual narrative On May 22, 2002, at approximately 1715 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172K, N78760, was substantially damaged during landing at Cedar City Regional Airport, Cedar City, Utah. The private pilot and his two passengers were not injured. Parowan Aero Services, Inc., Parowan, Utah, was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight that originated approximately 45 minutes before the accident. The pilot had not filed a flight plan. The pilot said that he was in the landing flare, and the stall horn was sounding. He said a gust of wind from the right "caught" him and the airplane was forced airborne again. The pilot said the wind gust stopped and the airplane "slammed" down onto the runway. The firewall and engine mount were bent, and the main landing gear box assembly and left door frame were distorted/bent. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - runway ## Aircraft - Registration: [N78760](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N78760), registered now, S/N 17257749, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172K - Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17257749 - Airframe hours: 12576 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Parowan Aero Services - Registered owner: Cnh LLC. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 7, 2002, 22 hours before - Departed: CDC, Cedar City, UT - Airport: CDC, Cedar City Regional Arpt, runway 26, 4,822 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 30, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 105 total, 90 in this make and model, 81 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 15 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: CDC ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 10, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54762. 508 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 472 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438659&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Supplement S (item 2, .PDF, 36 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40170670&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S-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.