# NTSB ERA15CA042: Cessna 172M, N696PT, Everglades City, FL, November 3, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 3, 2014, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Everglades City, FL - Coordinates: 25.848888, -81.390274 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.8489&lon=-81.3903&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 11, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - NTSB case key (mKey): 90352 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15CA042 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90352/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90352 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA042 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to compensate for gusting wind conditions during the flare, and the flight instructor's failure to intervene in a timely manner, resulting in a loss of airplane control and hard landing off of the runway. ## 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 · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; 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. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 47 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: 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) ## Analysis According to the student pilot, he was performing a full stop landing from the left seat with his instructor in the right seat. During the flare, a sudden gust of wind "pushed the airplane to the left" and the instructor took the controls. The instructor pilot also reported that a sudden, heavy gust of wind was encountered, and the airplane "started ballooning up" and turned "drastically" to the left. The instructor attempted a go-around; however, the airplane was already at low altitude and it collided with the ground. The airplane impacted hard on the grassy area adjacent to the runway, breaking off the nose gear. Federal Aviation Administration inspectors reported that substantial damage resulted to the airframe's left and right wings. The instructor pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane at the time of the accident. Although there was no weather reporting capability at the landing airport, gusting wind conditions were reported about 18 miles to the northwest. ## Factual narrative According to the student pilot, he was performing a full stop landing from the left seat with his instructor in the right seat. During the flare, a sudden gust of wind "pushed the airplane to the left" and the instructor took the controls. The instructor pilot also reported that a sudden, heavy gust of wind was encountered, and the airplane "started ballooning up" and turned "drastically" to the left. The instructor attempted a go-around; however, the airplane was already at low altitude and it collided with the ground. The airplane impacted hard on the grassy area adjacent to the runway, breaking off the nose gear. Federal Aviation Administration inspectors reported that substantial damage resulted to the airframe's left and right wings. The instructor pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane at the time of the accident. Although there was no weather reporting capability at the landing airport, gusting wind conditions were reported about 18 miles to the northwest. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N696PT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N696PT-2018-02-05), registration cancelled 2018-02-05, S/N 17265667, 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: 17265667 - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 4777 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot Training Center LLC - Registered owner: Pilot Training Center LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 1, 2014 - Departed: TMB, Miami, FL - Destination: X01, Everglades City, FL - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: X01, Everglades Airpark, runway 33, 2,400 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 30; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 14, 2014; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 584 total, 244 in this make and model, 505 as pilot in command, 221 in the last 90 days - Student pilot; age 20; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 40 total, 40 in this make and model, 29 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 7 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: MKY, 18 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 20141103021879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141103021879A), Nov 3, 2014: Cessna 172M, Everglades City, FL, Substantial damage. - Instruction flight: student pilot failed to maintain control of the aircraft during approach on runway 33. Flight instructor took control of the aircraft to… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 2, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90352. 12.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422025&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statements (item 2, .PDF, 153 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422026&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 3, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422027&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 4, .PDF, 17 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422028&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Weather Data (item 5, .PDF, 155 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422029&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Data-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Main Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422030&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Main%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Main Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422031&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Main%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Right Wing Damage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 8, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422032&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Right%20Wing%20Damage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 4 - Left Wing Damage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 9, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422033&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20-%20Left%20Wing%20Damage%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.