# NTSB ERA21LA198: Cessna 172M, N80874, Fredericksburg, VA, April 24, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 24, 2021, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Fredericksburg, VA · runway 24 - Coordinates: 38.266708, -77.448452 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2667&lon=-77.4485&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - 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): 103003 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA198 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103003/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103003 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA198 ## Probable cause The student pilot reported that, during the landing roll, he applied brakes and the airplane veered right. He was unable to correct back to the centerline or brake effectively; the airplane exited the runway and struck an embankment before coming to rest. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed damage to the right brake torque plate. The right brake became stuck when actuated and sometimes required prying to release. After the torque plate was replaced, the brake functioned without any anomalies. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot; 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) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 59 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072418), [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: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072418), [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 172M, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis A stuck right brake during landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control and runway excursion. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N80874](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N80874), registered now, S/N 17266786, built 1976 (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: 17266786 - Year built: 1976 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: EZF, Shannon, runway 24, 2,999 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 60; injuries: none; student; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 124.5 total, 120.9 in this make and model, 44.9 as pilot in command, 35.8 in the last 90 days, 14.5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: EZF ## 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 20210424005149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210424005149A), Apr 24, 2021: Cessna 172M, Fredericksburg, VA, Substantial damage. Upon landing the pilot mishandled the rudder and toe brakes. The pilot believed he was experiencing a pull the the right. There was no crosswind and winds were… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 26, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103003. 10.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 8.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12364170&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 113 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12410796&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR-%20Pilot%20statement-Rel.pdf - Mechanic statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12674288&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Mechanic%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12387031&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.