# NTSB ERA10CA268: Cessna 172N, N733XD, Blue Hill, ME, May 16, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 16, 2010, 09:25 local (13:25 UTC)
- Place: Blue Hill, ME
- Coordinates: 44.441944, -68.568336 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4419&lon=-68.5683&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: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 12, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 76036
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA268
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76036/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76036
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA268

## Probable cause

The flight instructor’s inability to maintain directional control while landing with gusting winds.

## Findings

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

- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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: 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)

## Analysis

According to the flight instructor, he was demonstrating a soft-field landing to a grass runway in a tricycle-gear airplane. During the landing roll on runway 34, a “strong wind gust from the right” lifted the airplane’s right wing, and the airplane “slid sideways to the left.” The student pilot noted that the airplane had landed “midline,” and after the gust of wind struck, the nose of the airplane headed left even though the instructor had applied full right rudder and aileron. The airplane’s left wing subsequently grazed small tree branches, then impacted a bigger branch that rotated the airplane counter-clockwise. The airplane came to rest perpendicular to the grass runway, with the airplane’s nose facing into the trees. The airplane’s left wing tip and right wing leading edge were damaged. The flight instructor and the student pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane. Weather, reported about 9 miles east of the accident site, included winds from 320 degrees at 12 knots, gusting 17 knots.

## Factual narrative

According to the flight instructor, he was demonstrating a soft field landing to a grass runway in a tricycle-gear airplane. During the landing roll on runway 34, a “strong wind gust from the right” lifted the airplane’s right wing, and the airplane “slid sideways to the left.” The student pilot noted that the airplane had landed “midline,” and after the gust of wind struck, the nose of the airplane headed left even though the instructor had applied full right rudder and aileron. The airplane’s left wing subsequently grazed small tree branches, then impacted a bigger branch that rotated the airplane counter-clockwise. The airplane came to rest perpendicular to the grass runway, with the airplane’s nose facing into the trees. The airplane’s left wing tip and right wing leading edge were substantially damaged. The flight instructor and the student pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane. Weather, reported about 9 miles east of the accident site, included winds from 320 degrees at 12 knots, gusting 17 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N733XD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N733XD), registered now, S/N 17268623 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17268623
- Airframe hours: 5854
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Jej Leasing LLC
- Registered owner: Jej Leasing LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, May 7, 2010
- Departed: BHB, Bar Harbor, ME
- Destination: 07B, Blue Hill, ME
- Airport: 07B, Blue Hill Airport, runway 34, 3,186 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 56; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 14, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 1,721 total, 1,100 in this make and model, 1,644 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 59; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 107 total, 90 in this make and model, 23 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: BHB, 9 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 20100516034029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100516034029A), May 16, 2010: Cessna 172N, Blue Hill, ME, Substantial damage. The flight was conducted under VMC conditions for the purpose of preparing applicant for private pilot flight test. Aircraft departed hancock county/bar harbor…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 6, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76036. 705 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 610 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331003&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Flight Instructor Interview Summary (item 2, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331374&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Instructor%20Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF
- Student Pilot Interview Summary (item 3, .PDF, 37 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331373&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Pilot%20Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF
- Weather Reports and Records (item 4, .PDF, 20 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331377&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-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.

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