# NTSB ERA11CA176: Cessna 172L, N7067Q, Fayetteville, GA, March 3, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 3, 2011, 14:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Fayetteville, GA - Coordinates: 33.420833, -84.493057 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4208&lon=-84.4931&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 June 8, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78487 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA176 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78487/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78487 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA176 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to land with excessive speed in gusting, tailwind conditions, resulting in a runway overrun. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172L, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072432), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172L, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072432), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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 172L, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072432), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, she elected to land on an uphill runway with a tailwind and gusts present. She recalled that the wind at a nearby airport were indicating a tailwind at 11 knots, gusting to 17 knots. She decided not to use flaps and increased her landing speed due to the wind conditions. After landing on the grass runway, she was unable to sufficiently decelerate the airplane, which resulted in a runway overrun. The airplane collided with trees and sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, she elected to land on the uphill runway 32 with a tailwind and gusts present. She recalled that winds at a nearby airport were from 120 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 17 knots. She decided not to use flaps and increased her landing speed due to the wind conditions. After landing on the grass runway, she was unable to sufficiently decelerate the airplane, which resulted in a runway overrun. The airplane collided with trees and sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7067Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7067Q-2013-08-07), registration cancelled 2013-08-07, S/N 17260367, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172L - Registry model: [Cessna 172L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172l) (registry code 2072432) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17260367 - Airframe hours: 10000 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Joy Ballard - Registered owner: Joy Ballard - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 31, 2010, 10 hours before - Departed: CTJ, Carrollton, GA - Destination: 19GA, Fayetteville, GA - Airport: 19GA, Willow Pond Aviation Inc, runway 32, 3,000 × 65 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 9, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 715 total, 650 in this make and model, 650 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 17 knots, gusting 23 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: FFC, 6 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 20110303007409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110303007409A), Mar 3, 2011: Cessna 172L, Fayetteville, GA, Substantial damage. The winds at the time of the accident were approximately 120/15. The pilot initially made an approach to landing to runway 31 (downwind) and initiated a go… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 15, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78487. 433 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 342 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345711&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Correspondence with Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 33 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345712&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20with%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF - Follow-up Correspondence with Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 16 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345789&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Follow-up%20Correspondence%20with%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF - Weather Information (item 4, .PDF, 43 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345713&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Information-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.