# NTSB ERA13CA266: Cessna 172L, N9816G, Millinocket, ME, May 31, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 31, 2013, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Millinocket, ME - Coordinates: 45.647777, -68.685554 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6478&lon=-68.6856&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 23, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 87081 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA266 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87081/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87081 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA266 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing. ## 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 172L, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072432), [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 172L, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072432), [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-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172L, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072432), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cessna 172L, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072432), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 172L, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072432), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the student pilot, he was on a solo cross country flight. While arriving at the destination airport he decided the wind was favoring runway 29. He positioned the airplane for landing. While on final approach, he experienced a left crosswind for only a short period of time and continued with the approach. On landing, the pilot flared “normally”, but encountered a wind gust from the left just before the landing gear touched down. The airplane began to weathervane to the left and the pilot applied power along with full right rudder and right aileron to counteract the turn; however, the right main landing gear touched down and the airplane traveled to the right side of the runway. The pilot “released the throttle” and, with the left wing and left main landing gear in the air, the airplane continued to the left side of the runway and subsequently the right main landing gear collapsed. The airplane eventually came to rest on the runway. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the right wing and firewall. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that could have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the wind was reported as variable at 4 knots. ## Factual narrative According to the student pilot, he was on a solo cross country flight. While arriving at the destination airport he decided the wind was favoring runway 29. He positioned the airplane for landing. While on final approach, he experienced a left crosswind for only a short period of time and continued with the approach. On landing, the pilot flared “normally”, but encountered a wind gust from the left just before the landing gear touched down. The airplane began to weathervane to the left and the pilot applied power along with full right rudder and right aileron to counteract the turn; however, the right main landing gear touched down and the airplane traveled to the right side of the runway. The pilot “released the throttle” and, with the left wing and left main landing gear in the air, the airplane continued to the left side of the runway and subsequently the right main landing gear collapsed. The airplane eventually came to rest on the runway. A postaccident examination of the airplane by the Federal Aviation Administration revealed substantial damage to the right wing and firewall. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that could have precluded normal operation. Winds, at the time of the accident, were reported as variable at 4 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9816G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9816G), registered now, S/N 17259716, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172L - Registry model: [Cessna 172L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172l) (registry code 2072432) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17259716 - Airframe hours: 2918 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Harry & Nancy Ricker - Registered owner: Harry & Nancy Ricker - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 16, 2012, 114 hours before - Departed: 3B1, Greenville, ME - Destination: MLT, Millinocket, ME - Airport: MLT, Millinocket Municipal Airport, runway 29, 4,713 × 99 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 52; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 78 total, 78 in this make and model, 41 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: MLT ## 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 20130531010019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130531010019A), May 31, 2013: Cessna 172L, Millinocket, ME, Substantial damage. On 5/31/2013 N9816G, a Cessna 172L departed greenville, ME to Millinocket, ME (mlt) with one soul on board, the [privacy data omitted], a student pilot. Upon… ## Other investigations on N9816G (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 MKC79DER06](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC79DER06), Nov 22, 1978: Cessna 172 (N9816G), Eveleth, MO, substantial damage ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 24, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87081. 11.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394223&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum of Record - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 186 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394234&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Memorandum of Record - Weather (item 3, .PDF, 126 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394302&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Weather-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Picture of Airplane Outside Hangar (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394224&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Picture%20of%20Airplane%20Outside%20Hangar%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Picture of Airplane Right Wing at Accident Site (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394147&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Picture%20of%20Airplane%20Right%20Wing%20at%20Accident%20Site%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 3: Picture of Airplane & Runway at Accident Site (Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394149&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%3A%20Picture%20of%20Airplane%20%26%20Runway%20at%20Accident%20Site%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.