# NTSB ERA09CA160: Cessna 172M, N3554Q, Le Roy, NY, February 7, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 7, 2009, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Le Roy, NY - Coordinates: 42.981388, -77.9375 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9814&lon=-77.9375&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 6, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73337 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA160 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73337/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA160 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind during an aborted landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to land in gusting crosswinds in excess of the manufacturer's recommended crosswind limit. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Airport facilities/design: snow removal service/equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017075): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [All aircraft, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017075/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: crosswind correction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 184 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that a strong gust of wind pushed the airplane off the right side of the runway and into a snow bank during an aborted landing to runway 28. The airplane received damage to both wings and the vertical stabilizer. The pilot had also aborted two previous landing attempts. Winds reported at a nearby airport, about the time of the accident, were from 200 degrees at 14 knots, gusting to 22 knots. According to the airplane's owner's manual, the crosswind limit for pilots with "average" ability was 15 knots. The pilot reported no deficiencies with the performance and handling of the airplane. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that a strong gust of wind pushed the airplane off the right side of the runway and into a snow bank during an aborted landing to runway 28. The airplane received damage to both wings and the vertical stabilizer. The pilot had also aborted two previous landing attempts. Winds reported at a nearby airport, about the time of the accident, were from 200 degrees at 14 knots, gusting to 22 knots. According to the airplane's owner's manual, the crosswind limit for pilots with "average" ability was 15 knots. The pilot reported no deficiencies with the performance and handling of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: N3554Q (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17261672 - Airframe hours: 4776 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Rochester Air Center LLC - Registered owner: Schubert Brothers Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 12, 2008, 45 hours before - Departed: ROC, Rochester, NY - Destination: 5G0, Le Roy, NY - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: 5G0, Le Roy Airport, runway 28, 2,540 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 30, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 142 total, 51 in this make and model, 83 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 14 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,500 ft broken - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: ROC, 13 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 20090207001899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090207001899A), Feb 7, 2009: Cessna 172M, Le Roy, NY, Substantial damage. On February 7, 2009 at approximately 1120 local time, a Cessna 172 bearing registration number N3554Q, registered to schubert brothers aviation inc. and… 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.