# NTSB ERA09CA063: Cessna 172, N2439Z, Bedford, MA, November 17, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: November 17, 2008, 12:20 local (17:20 UTC)
- Place: Bedford, MA
- Coordinates: 42.468612, -71.286666
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4686&lon=-71.2867&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 24, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 69473
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA063
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69473/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA063

## Probable cause

The student pilot's inadequate compensation for winds during landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md)
- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot of the Cessna 172 departed on his first solo flight after successfully completing an instructional flight with his instructor. The pilot chose to abort his first touch-and-go landing attempt on runway 29 due to winds and returned for another attempt. The airplane touched down on the centerline, but "weather-vaned" off the left side of the runway where it struck runway lights and a taxiway sign. The pilot reported that there were no deficiencies with the performance and handling of the airplane. The winds reported at the accident site 18 minutes after the accident were from 250 degrees at 8 knots. Thirty six minutes after the accident, the winds reported were from 230 degrees at 7 knots gusting to 16 knots.

## Factual narrative

The student pilot of the Cessna 172 departed on his first solo flight after successfully completing an instructional flight with his instructor. The pilot chose to abort his first touch-and-go landing attempt on runway 29 due to winds and returned for another attempt. The airplane touched down on the centerline, but "weather-vaned" off the left side of the runway where it struck runway lights and a taxiway sign. The pilot reported that there were no deficiencies with the performance and handling of the airplane. The winds reported at the accident site 18 minutes after the accident were from 250 degrees at 8 knots. Thirty six minutes after the accident, the winds reported were from 230 degrees at 7 knots gusting to 16 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2439Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2439Z), registered now, S/N 172S10564, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (S)
- Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172S10564
- Airframe hours: 307
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Executive Flyers Aviation
- Registered owner: Smithworks LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 11, 2008, 57 hours before
- Departed: BED, Bedford, MA
- Destination: BED, Bedford, MA
- Airport: BED, Lawrence G. Hanscom Field, runway 29, 7,001 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 47; injuries: none; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2; seat: front; flight hours: 50 total, 50 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observed at: BED

## 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 20081117853169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081117853169A), Nov 17, 2008: Cessna 172S, Bedford, MA, Substantial damage. Student pilot lost control of aircraft in a crosswind 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.

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