# NTSB ERA11CA450: Cessna 172M, N5399Q, Elkins, WV, August 13, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 13, 2011, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Elkins, WV - Coordinates: 38.889446, -79.856941 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8894&lon=-79.8569&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 17, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA Charleston FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81472 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA450 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81472/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81472 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA450 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's unfamiliarity with the geographic area, resulting in controlled flight into terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Knowledge: knowledge of geographic area](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032030): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032030/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032030/cases.md) - [Terrain: mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 329 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: 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) ## Analysis The certified flight instructor (CFI) directed the student pilot to perform a touch-and-go landing. During climb out, the CFI informed the student they would be conducting some mountain flying and instructed him to climb straight ahead over a ridge line. Upon clearing the ridge line, the CFI directed the student to make a right turn into a canyon. After entering the canyon, the CFI realized he was in the wrong area and the airplane would be unable to clear the ridge line in front of them. He took control of the airplane and made a left turn towards the left side of the canyon. He then initiated a hard right turn and realized there was insufficient room to reverse course. He leveled the wings of the airplane and it collided with the trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage and came to rest on the side of the ridge. The CFI stated there were no mechanical problems with the airplane and he was unfamiliar with the geographic area. ## Factual narrative The certified flight instructor (CFI) informed the student pilot to make a touch-and-go landing. During climb out, the CFI informed the student they would be conducting some mountain flying and to climb straight ahead over a ridge line. Upon clearing the ridge line, the CFI instructed the student to make a right turn into a canyon. After entering the canyon, the CFI realized he was in the wrong area and the airplane would be unable to clear the ridge line to their immediate front. He took control of the airplane and made a left turn towards the left side of the canyon. He then initiated a hard right turn and realized there was insufficient room to reverse course. He leveled the wings of the airplane and it collided with the trees. The airplane sustained structural damage and came to rest on the side of the ridge. The CFI stated there were no mechanical problems with the airplane and he was unfamiliar with the geographic area. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5399Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5399Q-2017-10-20), registration cancelled 2017-10-20, S/N 17261784, built 1973 (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: 17261784 - Airframe hours: 3220 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Michael D. Knopp - Registered owner: Wjb LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 7, 2010, 85 hours before - Departed: EKN, Elkins, WV - Destination: EKN, Elkins, WV ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 61; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 3, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 12,900 total, 3,500 in this make and model, 11,700 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 74 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 35; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 24 total, 2 in this make and model, 24 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: EKN ## 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 20110813018879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110813018879A), Aug 13, 2011: Cessna 172M, Elkins, WV, Destroyed. 08/13/2011ELKINS-randolph county-jennings randolph field airport, WV (ekn): the student pilot of N5399Q, a C172M, while on a VFR training flight was unable to… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 9, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81472. 346 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 346 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352664&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.