# NTSB ERA21LA119: Cessna 172R, N997MC, Lawrenceville, GA, January 28, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 28, 2021, 10:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Lawrenceville, GA · KLZU (Runway 25) - Coordinates: 33.978076, -83.962377 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9781&lon=-83.9624&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA / FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 102571 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA119 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102571/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102571 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA119 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing in a gusting crosswind, which resulted in a loss of control and runway excursion. ## 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 172R, 75 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [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 172R, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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 172R, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072401), [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 172R, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was returning to his home airport after a short trip. Other than mild turbulence, there was nothing eventful about the trip. Upon nearing the airport and listening to the weather, he understood that winds were gusting from the northwest at 12 to 20 knots. This was on the high end of his personal minimums, but within the tolerance range that he had flown in the past. As he was preparing to land, he experienced some greater turbulence and crosswinds. The air traffic controller in the control tower gave him a straight in approach, and subsequently cleared him to land on runway 25. The approach was turbulent, and the plane was being bounced and pushed left intermittently. Due to the wind gust advisory, he landed with only 10°of flaps and about 10 knots more airspeed. His estimated speed over the threshold of the runway was about 70 knots. He stated that it was pretty gusty crossing the runway threshold. He landed the airplane and once the nosewheel was down, he started braking. Unexpectedly the plane moved to the left quickly. It seemed to him as though a large gust hit the airplane from the northwest side and pushed the airplane sharply to the left. He worked to counter the movement with right rudder but was unsuccessful in stopping the momentum. He nearly kept the airplane on the pavement, but the left tire just slipped off the edge of the runway. When the left tire contacted the newly sodded turf, combined with the recent heavy rain; the tire sunk quickly, as the turf was soft and very muddy. This rapid deceleration, and the left tire being off the pavement, caused the rear of the plane to “rise” and the propeller struck the runway. With this motion, and the left tire being below the pavement, the airplane pivoted to the left, and the left-wing tip struck the surface. The airplane came to rest on its landing gear, just off the runway surface. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N997MC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N997MC), registered now, S/N 17280039, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172R - Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17280039 - Year built: 1997 - Airframe hours: 1615 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Aeroventures Flying Club Inc - Registered owner: Aeroventures Flying Club Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2020 - Departed: GMU, Lawrenceville, GA - Destination: LZU, Lawrenceville, GA - Airport: LZU, Gwinnett County - Briscoe Fld, runway 25, 6,000 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 23, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 121 total, 119 in this make and model, 59 as pilot in command, 53 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 9 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.39 inHg - Observed at: KLZU - METAR: KLZU 281546Z 29009G18KT 250V330 10SM CLR A3039 RMK AO2 $ ## 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 20210128000679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210128000679A), Jan 28, 2021: Cessna 172R, Lawrenceville, GA, Substantial damage. After landing during roll out the pilot reported, a gust of wind hit the plane from the nw side, and pushed the plane sharply to the left. The pilot attempted… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 14, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102571. 2.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12177777&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20form%20-%20RBUCK%20II_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Weather reports and records - klzu metars (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 135 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12176393&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=KLZU%20METARS-Rel.pdf - Airport diagram (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12176521&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airport%20Diagram-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 4, PDF, 9 pages, 374 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12177286&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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.