# NTSB ERA09CA443: Cessna 172S, N2110Q, Alabaster, AL, August 4, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 4, 2009, 16:37 local (21:37 UTC) - Place: Alabaster, AL - Coordinates: 33.180557, -86.780555 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1806&lon=-86.7806&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 19, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74454 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA443 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74454/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74454 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA443 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation; cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: 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) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot stated that he departed from a local area airport and remained in left closed traffic for landing. He completed the before landing check on downwind and lowered flaps to 10 degrees. The pilot turned base, lowered the flaps to 20 degrees, turned on final, and lowered the flaps to 30 degrees while decreasing the airplane's airspeed. He continued on final approach and the airplane crossed the landing threshold at 50 feet mean sea level. The pilot flared the airplane and it touched down on the runway at about midfield. The airplane bounced, touched back down on the runway, and veered from right to left. The pilot lost directional control of the airplane. The airplane went off the left side of the runway into the grass, collided with an embankment, and subsequently came to a stop. The pilot stated he did not experience any mechanical problems with the airplane. "He flared too high, the airplane bounced and he lost directional control of the airplane." ## Factual narrative The student pilot stated that he departed from a local area airport and remained in left closed traffic for landing. He completed the before landing check on down wind and lowered flaps to 10 degrees. The pilot turned base, lowered the flaps to 20 degrees, turned on final, and lowered the flaps to 30 degrees while decreasing the airplanes airspeed. He continued on final approach and the airplane crossed the landing threshold at 50 feet mean sea level. The pilot flared the airplane and it touched down on the runway at about midfield. The airplane bounced, touched back down on the runway, and veered from right to left. The pilot lost directional control of the airplane. The airplane went off the left side of the runway into the grass, collided with an embankment, and subsequently came to a stop. The pilot stated he did not experience any mechanical problems with the airplane. "He flared too high, the airplane bounced and he lost directional control of the airplane." ## Aircraft - Registration: N2110Q (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S9610 - Airframe hours: 2172 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Jerry D. Evan Jr. - Registered owner: Down To Earth Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 30, 2009, 76 hours before - Departed: EET, Alabaster, AL - Destination: EET, Alabaster, AL - Airport: EET, Shelby County Airport, runway 16, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 24; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3; seat: left; flight hours: 24 total, 6 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: EET ## 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 20090804048069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090804048069A), Aug 4, 2009: Cessna 172S, Calera, AL, Substantial damage. First solo flight: total flight time: 23.1 hours, total time in aircraft: 23.1 hours, 3.4 hours in last 30 days. Student pilot attempting first solo landing… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 21, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74454. 921 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 921 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316989&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.