# NTSB ERA20CA114: Cessna 172, N291RP, Everglades City, FL, February 26, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: February 26, 2020, 13:55 local (18:55 UTC)
- Place: Everglades City, FL
- Coordinates: 25.849166, -81.390556 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.8492&lon=-81.3906&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: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 27, 2020
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 101015
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA114
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101015/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101015
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA114

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during the landing flare in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in the left wing striking the runway.

## Findings

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

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072436), [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 172P, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, while on final approach to the runway and about 3 to 4 ft above ground level, the airplane encountered a "strong gust cross wind" from the right, which resulted in the left wing striking the runway and sustaining substantial damage. The pilot reduced engine power and landed the airplane without further incident. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot, while on final approach to runway 15, about 5 ft above the runway, a "strong gust of crosswind" from the right resulted in the airplane's left wing striking the runway. The pilot reduced engine power and landed the airplane without further anomaly. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N291RP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N291RP), registered now, S/N 17274327, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172 (P)
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-D2J](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-d2j) (registry code 41595, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17274327
- Year built: 1981
- Airframe hours: 11202.7
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 28, 2019
- Departed: TMB, Miami, FL
- Destination: X01, Everglades City, FL
- Airport: X01, Everglades Airpark, runway 15, 2,400 × 50 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 23, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 7,498 total, 256 in this make and model, 143 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 13 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,500 ft broken
- Altimeter: 29.93 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 20200226004269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200226004269A), Feb 26, 2020: Cessna 172P, Everglades City, FL, Substantial damage. On 26FEB2020, aircraft registered as N291RP piloted by airman [privacy data omitted] [privacy data omitted] private pilot [privacy data omitted] commercial…

## Other investigations on N291RP (1)

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.

- [NTSB ERA24LA329](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA329), Jul 27, 2024: Cessna 172P (N291RP), Moultonborough, NH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s improper remedial response to a bounced landing, which resulted in a hard landing.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 7, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101015. 7.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 6.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483516&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Investigative Photograph - Left Wing Damage (item 2, .PDF, 138 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483517&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Investigative%20Photograph%20-%20Left%20Wing%20Damage-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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