# NTSB DEN03LA083: Cessna 172S, N5278H, Cedar City, UT, May 21, 2003

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 20, 2003, 19:30 local (May 21, 2003, 01:30 UTC)
- Place: Cedar City, UT
- Coordinates: 37.401668, -112.910278
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4017&lon=-112.9103&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 5, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Salt Lake City FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 57065
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA083
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57065/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA083

## Probable cause

the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and his failure to maintain directional control.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff
  - terrain condition - berm (contributing factor)
- Nose over, takeoff

## Analysis

The pilot was departing to the south when the aircraft was blown to the left. The left wing struck a dirt embankment ,and the aircraft spun around 180 degrees and nosed over causing substantial damage to the wings.

## Factual narrative

On May 20, 2003, at approximately 1930 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172S, N5278H, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain and nosed over during takeoff roll at a private airfield 20 miles south of  Cedar City, Utah.  The private pilot and his passenger were not injured.  C & S Aviation LC of Cedar City, Utah, was operating the airplane under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight which was originating at the time of the accident.  The pilot had not filed a flight plan.

According to the pilot, he was departing to the south when the aircraft "was blown to the left."  The left wing struck a dirt embankment,and the aircraft spun around 180 degrees and nosed over. The aircraft came to rest, inverted in a gully, on the east side of the strip.

The nosewheel was bent aft, the left and right wing tips were crushed, the left and right wings were bent down at the root, and the outboard edge of the left elevator was crushed.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5278H (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172S
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17259210
- Airframe hours: 290
- Engines: Textron Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Joseph Sterling
- Registered owner: C & S Aviation LC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 28, 2003
- Departed: NONE, Bullock Field, UT
- Destination: CDC, Cedar City, UT
- Airport: Bulloch Private Strip, runway 180, 2,800 × 50 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review March 25, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 200 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observed at: CDC, 20 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 20030520010219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030520010219A), May 20, 2003: Cessna 172S, Cedar City, UT, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot states he was taking off from a Private dirt airstrip when his aircraft drifted to the left side of the runway. He further stated that the left…

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.

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