# NTSB ERA14CA124: Cessna 172S, N2143X, Mansfield, MA, February 15, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: February 15, 2014, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Mansfield, MA
- Coordinates: 42, -71.195831
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0000&lon=-71.1958&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 1, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 88813
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA124
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88813/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88813
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA124

## Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain an adequate approach glide path, which resulted in a collision with a snow bank.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/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 172S, 206 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: snow/ice](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022060): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022060/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022060/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 118 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the student pilot, during the solo flight while on final approach, he thought the airplane was on glidepath, but realized after the accident that the airplane was "low." Subsequently, the right main landing gear struck a snowbank at the end of the runway, which resulted in the right main landing gear being bent aft. The student pilot proceeded to land the airplane; however, upon landing it veered off the right side of the runway into another snowbank. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the firewall. The student pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

According to the student pilot, during the solo flight while on final approach, he thought the airplane was on glidepath, but realized after the accident that the airplane was "low." Subsequently, the right main landing gear struck a snowbank at the end of the runway, which resulted in the right main landing gear being bent aft. The student pilot proceeded to land the airplane; however, upon landing it veered off the right side of the runway into another snowbank. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the firewall. The student pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2143X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2143X-2019-12-02), registration cancelled 2019-12-02, S/N 172S9526 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S
- Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172S9526
- Year built: 2003
- Airframe hours: 7124
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: King Aviation Mansfield
- Registered owner: Easy Flyer Aviation Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: 1B9, Mansfield, MA
- Destination: 1B9, Mansfield, MA
- Airport: 1B9, Mansfield Muni, runway 14, 3,503 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 50; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 66 total, 66 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observed at: TAN, 11 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 20140215000799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140215000799A), Feb 15, 2014: Cessna 172S, Mansfield, MA, Substantial damage. Student pilot was conducting approach to land on runway 14 at 1B9. All three gears struck a snowbank approximately 6 feet high at the end of the runway. The…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 27, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88813. 4.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410753&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 22 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410754&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Overhead View of Accident Site (item 3, .PDF, 294 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410771&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Overhead%20View%20of%20Accident%20Site-Master.PDF
- Weather Observations (item 4, .PDF, 212 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410773&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF
- Photo 1-View Of Airplane At Rest (item 5, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410774&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201-View%20Of%20Airplane%20At%20Rest-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.

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