# NTSB ERA15CA106: Cessna 172L, N7079Q, New Castle, PA, January 16, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: January 16, 2015, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: New Castle, PA
- Coordinates: 41.025276, -80.41333 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0253&lon=-80.4133&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 7, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 90614
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15CA106
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90614/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90614
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA106

## Probable cause

Pilot's inadequate control of the airplane during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion.

## 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 · 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-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); 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: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172L, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072432), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, he landed the airplane on the centerline of the runway and the airplane began to veer to the left. He applied right rudder pressure; however, the airplane continued to the left. It traveled off the left side of the runway and came to rest inverted in a ditch, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. The pilot indicated that the left brake "locked up" during the accident sequence. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that there were no malfunctions or anomalies with the brake system that would have precluded normal operation prior to the accident.

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot, he landed the airplane on the centerline of the runway and the airplane began to veer to the left. He applied right rudder pressure; however, the airplane continued to the left. It traveled off the left side of the runway and came to rest inverted in a ditch, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. The pilot indicated that the left brake "locked up" during the accident sequence. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that there were no malfunctions or anomalies with the brake system that would have precluded normal operation prior to the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7079Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7079Q-2018-05-31), registration cancelled 2018-05-31, S/N 17260379, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172L (H)
- 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: 17260379
- Year built: 1972
- Airframe hours: 5040
- Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Weinzierl Richard J
- Registered owner: Weinzierl Richard J
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, January 5, 2015
- Departed: UCP, New Castle, PA
- Destination: UCP, New Castle, PA
- Airport: KUCP, New Castle Airport, runway 23, 3,995 × 75 ft, macadam
- Equipment: Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 20, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 7,474 total, 3,529 in this make and model, 7,368 as pilot in command, 51 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observed at: UPC

## 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 20150116002249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150116002249A), Jan 16, 2015: Cessna 172L, New Castle, PA, Substantial damage. On 1/16/2015 at 1220EST N7079Q a Cessna 172L went off the left side of runway 23 New Castle Airport (ucp) approximately 1900 from the departure end. The…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 23, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90614. 2.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 811 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423681&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- FAA Statement (item 2, .PDF, 233 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423682&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Weather Report (item 3, .PDF, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423683&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 - Airplane at Rest (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423684&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Airplane%20at%20Rest%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.

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