# NTSB ERA11CA205: Cessna 172M, N32SF, Statesville, NC, March 23, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 23, 2011, 10:45 local (14:45 UTC) - Place: Statesville, NC - Coordinates: 35.888889, -80.806945 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8889&lon=-80.8069&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report October 3, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78657 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA205 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78657/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78657 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA205 ## Probable cause The certified flight instructor's inadequate remedial action during the go-around, which resulted in a collision with trees. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The certified flight instructor stated that during an instructional flight he and his student departed a private grass strip on runway 22. They climbed to 800 feet and turned left toward the airport in order to simulate an engine out emergency. The instructor reduced the power and the student pilot turned back towards the grass strip to land on runway 4. During the final approach to landing, the airplane encountered a tailwind and, in an attempt to go-around, the airplane collided with trees at the end of the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the firewall, fuselage, and wings. The pilots reported no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane. The nearest airport’s weather observation system reported that the wind at the time of the accident was from 210 degrees at 6 knots. ## Factual narrative The certificated flight instructor stated that during an instructional flight, he and his student departed a private grass strip on runway 22. They climbed to 800 feet and turned left toward the airport in order to simulate an engine out emergency. The instructor reduced the power and the student pilot turned back towards the grass strip to land on runway 4. During the final approach, the airplane encountered a tailwind, and in an attempt to go-around the airplane collided with trees at the end of the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the firewall, fuselage, and wings. The pilots reported no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane. The nearest airport's weather observation system reported at the time of the accident; wind from 210 degrees at 6 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N32SF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N32SF-2011-08-08), registration cancelled 2011-08-08, S/N 17264958, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17264958 - Airframe hours: 16589 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Compass 21 Inc - Registered owner: Compass 21 Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 18, 2011, 10 hours before - Departed: 31A, Mocksville, NC - Destination: 31A, Mocksville, NC - Airport: 00, Allison Private Airstrip, runway 04, 3,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 53; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 10, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 8,500 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 8,350 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 40; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 68 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.72 inHg - Observed at: SVH, 12 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 20110323004459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110323004459A), Mar 23, 2011: Cessna 172M, Statesville, NC, Substantial damage. Pilot was instructed to conduct emergency landing approach at a grass runway without touching down coming within approx. 15 feet of the runway. During pull out… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 28, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78657. 6.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 801 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40348389&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports-Instructor statement. (item 2, .PDF, 539 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40348437&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports-Instructor%20statement.-Redacted.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports-Student pilot statement (item 3, .PDF, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40348361&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports-Student%20pilot%20statement-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 (item 4, .PDF, 628 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40348362&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201-Master.PDF - Photo 2 (item 5, .PDF, 675 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40348364&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202-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.