# NTSB ERA10CA244: Cessna 172N, N5371D, Poughkeepsie, NY, April 24, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 24, 2010, 11:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Poughkeepsie, NY - Coordinates: 41.622501, -73.883888 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6225&lon=-73.8839&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 12, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA Teterboro FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75863 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA244 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75863/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75863 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA244 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control on the landing rollout. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 82 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 81 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072434), [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: [Cessna 172N, 81 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 134 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot was conducting touch-and-go landings and full-stop landings at his home airport. The airplane touched down on the runway and started to veer left on the landing rollout. No crosswinds were present. The pilot stated, "I let the plane follow the path to the left, not wanting to over control it and having it tilt sideways or nose first into the grass. It struck the 3,000 foot sign on the side of the runway as it exited the runway, rolled out on the grass and came to a stop." The pilot indicated that he lost directional control of the airplane. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left horizontal stabilizer received structural damage; no anomalies were noted with the brakes or steering systems of the airplane. ## Factual narrative The private pilot was conducting touch and go landings and full stop landings at his home base airport. The airplane touched down on the runway and started to veer to the left on landing roll out. No crosswind condition was present. The pilot stated, "I let the plane follow the path to the left, not wanting to over control it and having it tilt sideways or nose first into the grass. It struck the 3,000 foot sign on the side of the runway as it exited the runway, rolled out on the grass and came to a stop." The pilot informed the NTSB investigator during a telephone interview that he lost directional control of the airplane. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector and maintenance inspector from a local fixed base operator revealed the left horizontal stabilizer received structural damage. No anomalies were noted with the brakes or steering systems of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5371D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5371D-2010-09-10), registration cancelled 2010-09-10, S/N 17272550, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N (17272550) - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17272550 - Airframe hours: 10270 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Cohen Bruce M - Registered owner: Cohen Bruce M - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 9, 2010, 61 hours before - Departed: POU, Poughkeepsie, NY - Destination: POU, Poughkeepsie, NY - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: POU, Dutchess County Airport, runway 06, 5,001 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 25, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 243 total, 235 in this make and model, 148 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: pou ## 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 20100424032349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100424032349A), Apr 24, 2010: Cessna 172N, Wappingers Fall, NY, Substantial damage. N5371D, piloted by Mr. Cohen had completed 3 takeoffs and landing to runway 06 at pou. During the fourth and final landing, upon touchdown from a normal,… ## Other investigations on N5371D (1) 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. - [NTSB MKC89LA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC89LA074), Mar 5, 1989: Cessna 172 (N5371D), Cresco, IA, substantial damage. Probable cause: FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE LANDING ON A CLOSED RUNWAY. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 3, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75863. 733 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 566 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329113&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329099&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Maintenace Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 25 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329194&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenace%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 View of Structural damage to Left horizontal stablizer (item 4, .PDF, 112 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329115&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20View%20of%20Structural%20damage%20to%20Left%20horizontal%20stablizer-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.