# NTSB ERA14CA334: Cessna 172N, N7368F, Edgewater, MD, July 8, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 8, 2014, 19:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Edgewater, MD - Coordinates: 38.942779, -76.568336 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9428&lon=-76.5683&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 2, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 89631 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA334 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89631/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89631 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA334 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent encounter with an unanticipated convective gust front or low-level wind shear while landing, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Wind: windshear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 90 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Convective weather: thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033010/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 100 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033010/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: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that she and the student pilot checked the weather conditions prior to departing on an instructional flight, and noted thunderstorms were forecast for the area about 1 hour after their flight was scheduled to be completed. While returning from the flight as scheduled, the flight instructor noted thunderstorm activity to the northwest and strong winds at an airport located about 15 miles north of their destination airport. While on final approach to land on runway 30, the flight instructor noted that the reported winds were from 260 degrees at 10 knots. She continued the approach normally; however, during the landing flare a significant change in headwind caused the airplane to climb. The flight instructor added engine power and pitched up, with the intention of aborting the landing; however, the airplane quickly descended uncontrollably onto the runway. The airplane landed hard and sustained substantial damage to the left wing. Review of weather radar around the time of the accident revealed a line of approaching echos, with a defined gust front ahead of the system. Winds reported at a nearby airport, about 30 minutes before the accident were from 210 degrees at 10 knots, and from 300 degrees at 18 knots, gusting to 29 knots, about 30 minutes after the accident. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor reported that she and the student pilot checked the weather conditions prior to departing on an instructional flight, and noted thunderstorms were forecast for the area about 1 hour after their flight was scheduled to be completed. While returning from the flight as scheduled, the flight instructor noted thunderstorm activity to the northwest and strong winds at an airport located about 15 miles north of their destination airport. While on final approach to land on runway 30, the flight instructor noted that the reported winds were from 260 degrees at 10 knots. She continued the approach normally; however, during the landing flare a significant change in headwind caused the airplane to climb. The flight instructor added engine power and pitched up, with the intention of aborting the landing; however, the airplane quickly descended uncontrollably onto the runway. The airplane landed hard and sustained substantial damage to the left wing. Review of weather radar around the time of the accident revealed a line of approaching echos, with a defined gust front ahead of the system. Winds reported at a nearby airport, about 30 minutes before the accident were from 210 degrees at 10 knots, and from 300 degrees at 18 knots, gusting to 29 knots, about 30 minutes after the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7368F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7368F), registered now, S/N 17273257, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17273257 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 12295 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Navy Annapolis Flight Center - Registered owner: W Tech Consulting Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, May 1, 2014, 60 hours before - Departed: ESN, Easton, MD - Destination: ANP, Edgewater, MD - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: ANP, Lee, runway 30, 2,500 × 48 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 23; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 10, 2014; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 600 total, 473 in this make and model, 500 as pilot in command, 61 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 36; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 77 total, 77 in this make and model, 8 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 18 knots, gusting 29 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: NAK, 5 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 20140708014599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140708014599A), Jul 8, 2014: Cessna 172N, Annapolis, MD, Substantial damage. CFI pilot stated she was preparing student pilot for upcoming stage 3 check ride. Aircraft was flying in the vicinity of easton MD and they were monitoring… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 27, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89631. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415724&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statements (item 2, .PDF, 227 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415725&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Weather Information (item 3, .PDF, 136 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415726&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Information-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Left Wing (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 36 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415727&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Left%20Wing%20(Photo%20Courtesy%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.