# NTSB ERA13CA170: Cessna 172M, N61756, Hendersonville, NC, March 15, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 15, 2013, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Hendersonville, NC - Coordinates: 35.516666, -82.716667 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5167&lon=-82.7167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 18, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 86434 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA170 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86434/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86434 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA170 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during an attempted go-around in gusty tailwind conditions. ## 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 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) - [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 172M, 123 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified; 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. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 100 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); 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 student pilot stated that, during an attempted landing on runway 14, he “could not get the plane to settle on the ground.” About halfway down the runway, the airplane “ballooned,” and the student pilot elected to perform a go-around. He applied full engine power and decreased the flap setting in an attempt to gain altitude, but the airplane impacted power lines off the left side of the runway and came to rest on top of a hangar, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The student pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Reported wind at an airport 9 miles to the northwest of the accident location, about the time of the accident, was from 250 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 18 knots. ## Factual narrative The student pilot stated that, during landing on runway 14, a 2,400-foot-long, 100-foot-wide turf runway, he “could not get the plane to settle on the ground.” Approximately halfway down the runway, the airplane “ballooned,” and the student pilot elected to perform a go-around. He applied full engine power and decreased the flap setting in an attempt to gain altitude, but the airplane impacted power lines off the left side of the runway and came to rest on top of a hangar, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The student pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Reported wind at an airport 9 miles to the northwest of the accident location, about the time of the accident, was from 250 degrees at 10 knots gusting to 18 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N61756](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N61756-2013-05-06), registration cancelled 2013-05-06, S/N 17264778, 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: 17264778 - Airframe hours: 7800 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Blue Ridge Sport Flight LLC - Registered owner: Blue Ridge Sport Flight LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2013 - Departed: AND, Anderson, SC - Destination: 8NC9, Hendersonville, NC - Airport: 8NC9, W.N.C. Air Museum Airport, runway 14, 2,400 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 35; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 40 total, 26 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 10 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: AVL, 9 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 20130315004249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130315004249A), Mar 15, 2013: Cessna 172M, Hendersonville, NC, Substantial damage. On March 15, 2013, at approximately 3:30 EST, a Cessna 172M, operating under the provisions of 14 code of federal regulations (CFR) part 91, was substantially… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 10, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86434. 7.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 558 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389758&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Student Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 448 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389759&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Henderson County Deputy Report and Witness Statements (item 3, .PDF, 941 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389763&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Henderson%20County%20Deputy%20Report%20and%20Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - AVL Weather Observations (item 4, .PDF, 9 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389760&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=AVL%20Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF - Overhead View of Airport (Google) (item 5, .PDF, 341 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389761&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Overhead%20View%20of%20Airport%20(Google)-Master.PDF - Photo 1: View of Airplane At Rest (Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 5.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389762&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20View%20of%20Airplane%20At%20Rest%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.