# NTSB ERA12LA061: Cessna 172R, N212CF, Frederick, MD, November 2, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 2, 2011, 17:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Frederick, MD - Coordinates: 39.417499, -77.374168 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4175&lon=-77.3742&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 8, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82237 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12LA061 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82237/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82237 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA061 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s inadequate directional control during the landing roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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 172R, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 75 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis After touchdown, with a left crosswind of about 6 knots, the student pilot reported a strong vibration in the wheels and a pull to the left. He applied power to abort the landing, but did not maintain directional control, and, as a result, the airplane departed the left side of the runway, collapsing the nose landing gear. Postaccident inspection of the nose landing gear shimmy damper revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. ## Factual narrative On November 2, 2011, about 1715 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172R, N212CF, registered to FL Flyers LLC, operated by Frederick Flight Center, experienced a loss of control during landing at Frederick Municipal Airport (FDK), Frederick, Maryland. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 instructional flight from Carroll County Regional Airport/Jack B Poage Field (DMW), Westminster, Maryland. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the student pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. The flight originated about 20 minutes earlier from DMW. The student pilot stated that the accident flight was his fourth solo flight. He departed FDK and flew to DMW where he performed a full-stop landing. He later reported noticing a "slight shutter in the wheels during the landing roll but no steering issue was noticed." He departed to return to FDK, and entered the traffic pattern for landing on runway 23. He reported that the approach was flown at 70 knots, and after a smooth touchdown, he reported that almost immediately he, “…felt a strong vibration in the wheels and a pull to the left….” He applied power to go around, and attempted to keep the longitudinal axis of the airplane aligned with the runway but the airplane veered to the left and departed the left side of the runway. The airplane came to an abrupt stop with the nose pitched into the ground. Postaccident inspection of the airplane and airport were performed by a Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector. The inspector reported that black marks on the runway were noted to the runway edge, consistent with brake application. Inspection of the airplane revealed that the nose landing gear was folded under the airplane, and further inspection of the nose landing gear shimmy damper revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. A surface observation weather report taken at the accident airport at 1710, or approximately 5 minutes before the accident indicates in part that the wind was from 160 degrees at 6 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N212CF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N212CF), registered now, S/N 17280418, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172R - Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17280418 - Airframe hours: 4197 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Frederick Flight Center,Inc. - Registered owner: Fl Flyers LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 27, 2011, 12 hours before - Departed: DMW, Westminster, MD - Destination: FDK, Frederick, MD - Airport: FDK, Frederick Municipal Airport, runway 23, 5,220 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 56; injuries: minor; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 45 total, 45 in this make and model, 6 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: FDK ## 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 20111102025269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111102025269A), Nov 2, 2011: Cessna 172R, Frederick, MD, Substantial damage. Student pilot with approximately 40 hours was returning from a solo cross country from carroll county regional airport (dmw) to Frederick airport (fdk). Pilot… ## Other investigations on N212CF (1) 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. - [NTSB MIA05CA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA05CA065), Mar 2, 2005: Cessna 172 (N212CF), Madison, MS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper landing flare which resulted in substantial damage during the subsequent hard landing. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 24, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82237. 307 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 252 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360292&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 17 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360295&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360294&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-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.