# NTSB ERA21LA176: Cessna 172F, N5424R, Fayetteville, NC, April 6, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 6, 2021, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Fayetteville, NC · Airport Off Side of Runway - Coordinates: 34.893692, -78.843531 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8937&lon=-78.8435&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: 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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 102888 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA176 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102888/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102888 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA176 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent noseover. ## 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 172F, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072414), [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 172F, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072414), [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-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was landing the airplane on a 3,500-ft-long runway and reported that the airplane was “long and fast” during the approach. The airplane floated down the runway before eventually touching down. Seeing that the end of the runway was approaching, the pilot applied the brakes. After the nose landing gear touched down, the airplane veered off the runway to the left. As it departed the runway surface, the propeller struck the ground and the airplane nosed over. The airplane’s fuselage, left wing, and vertical stabilizer were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5424R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5424R-2021-09-30), registration cancelled 2021-09-30, S/N 17252969, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172F - Registry model: [Cessna 172F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (registry code 2072414) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17252969 - Year built: 1965 - Airframe hours: 3357 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-300 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Cape Fear Aviation Maintenance LLC - Registered owner: Cape Fear Aviation Maintenance LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 31, 2021 - Departed: EYF, Elizabethtown, NJ - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 2GC, Grays Creek, runway 17/35, 3,500 × 30 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: sport pilot, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 12, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,011 total, 558 in this make and model, 794 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 3 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: FAY, 6 nm away - METAR: METAR KFAY 061953Z 29003KT 9SM CLR 28/02 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP137 T02830017= ## 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 20210406003709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210406003709A), Apr 6, 2021: Cessna 172F, Fayetteville, NC, Substantial damage. Aircraft landed long and fast; pilot put nose down and applied the brakes. The aircraft veered to the left side of the runway. The aircraft departed the… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 7, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102888. 8.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12698195&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilots%206120%20Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's post accident statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12698578&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Post%20Accident%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation_pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12702365&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation_FAA (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 258 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12704111&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_FAA-Rel.pdf - Photo array_accident site and airplane damage (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 423 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12701171&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Site%20and%20Damage%20Photographs-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.