- Date
- June 13, 2014, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Frankfort, KY
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N7540XCessna 172B
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 27, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- FAA report
- 20140613009149A
- Case key
- 89450
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing in crosswind conditions, resulting in a loss of control and runway excursion.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
According to the student pilot, he was attempting a touch-and-go landing on runway 25, with a strong crosswind out of the north. The airplane touched down on the left main gear first, and the wind turned the airplane 45 degrees away from the runway heading. He attempted to regain directional control; however, he observed parked airplanes and a fueling station ahead. As the airplane departed the runway onto the grass, he attempted a go around. After becoming airborne, the nose gear and the left wing collided with a hill and the airplane bounced. The airplane stalled and came down on the nose and right wing tip before coming to a stop. A post-accident examination of the wreckage confirmed substantial damage to the firewall, both wings, and the aft fuselage. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
According to the student pilot, he was attempting a touch-and-go landing on runway 25, with a strong crosswind out of the north. The airplane touched down on the left main gear first, and the wind turned the airplane 45 degrees away from the runway heading. He attempted to regain directional control; however, he observed parked airplanes and a fueling station ahead. As the airplane departed the runway onto the grass, he attempted a go around. After becoming airborne, the nose gear and the left wing collided with a hill and the airplane bounced. The airplane stalled and came down on the nose and right wing tip before coming to a stop. A post-accident examination of the wreckage confirmed substantial damage to the firewall, both wings, and the aft fuselage. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7540X
- Reported as
- Cessna 172B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17248040
- Built
- 1960
- Airframe hours
- 3,441
- Engine
- Cont Motor 0-300 SER, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Cline James M
- Registered owner
- Cline James M
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 25, 2014 · 50 hours before
- Departed
- FFT · Frankfort, KY
- Destination
- FFT · Frankfort, KY
- Airport
- FFT · Capital City AP, runway 25, 5,506 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 41
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 20 total · 20 in this make and model · 1 as pilot in command · 8 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.94 inHg
- Observed at
- FFT
Docket · 8
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 15, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 8.1 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.