# NTSB ERA12CA481: Cessna 172M, N6778H, Hammond, NY, July 21, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 21, 2012, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Hammond, NY - Coordinates: 44.468612, -75.65583 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4686&lon=-75.6558&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 November 5, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84462 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA481 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84462/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84462 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA481 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane while landing in gusting wind conditions. ## 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 172M, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2072418), [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 172M, 59 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072418), [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: 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) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072418), [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 172M, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, the airplane encountered a strong gust of wind during takeoff that pushed the airplane to the left of the landing strip. After departing the landing strip, the nose gear collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported the wind at the airstrip around the time of the accident to be from 270 degrees at 10 knots with gusts at 20 knots. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, the airplane encountered a strong gust of wind that pushed the airplane to the left of the landing strip. Upon leaving the landing strip the nose gear collapsed resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported the wind based on a wind sock at the airstrip around the time of the accident to be from 270 degrees at 10 knots with gusts at 20 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6778H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6778H-2012-10-31), registration cancelled 2012-10-31, S/N 17265578, 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: 17265578 - Airframe hours: 9672 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 18, 2012, 75 hours before - Departed: ART, Watertown, NY - Destination: Hammond, NY - Airport: NONE, Private, runway 27, 2,600 × 40 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 21, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 1,857 total, 41 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 10 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F ## 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 20120721023019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120721023019A), Jul 21, 2012: Cessna 172M, Hammond, NY, Substantial damage. Upon landing on the mowed landing strip, the pilot experienced a gust of wind from the right side, causing the aircraft to roll off the runway to the left. The… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 7, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84462. 5.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 707 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374918&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Miscellaneous (Pilot Statement) (item 2, .PDF, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374919&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%20(Pilot%20Statement)-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: View of the Left Wing Damage with the Grass Strip Runway in the Background. Photo Provided by the Federal Aviation Administration. (item 3, .PDF, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374947&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20View%20of%20the%20Left%20Wing%20Damage%20%20with%20the%20Grass%20Strip%20Runway%20in%20the%20Background.%20Photo%20Provided%20by%20the%20Federal%20Aviation%20Administration.-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.