# NTSB ERA21LA249: Cessna 172R, N430EP, Groton, CT, June 13, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 13, 2021, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Groton, CT · In grass adjacent to runway 23 - Coordinates: 41.33295, -72.03935 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3329&lon=-72.0393&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): 103254 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA249 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103254/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103254 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA249 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing, resulting in a runway excursion and collision with an airport sign. ## 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 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) - [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) ## 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) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that he was flying a visual approach at the conclusion of a solo cross-country flight. Following a reportedly normal approach and landing, when the nose landing gear contacted the runway, the airplane began to veer to the left and “tilted somewhat.” The airplane then quickly veered further left and departed the runway surface. The airplane collided with a runway distance sign and came to a stop in the grass. According to an inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration, the airplane’s horizontal stabilizer and elevator were substantially damaged. He performed an examination of the flight controls, wheels, and wheel brakes; no evidence of a preexisting mechanical malfunction or failure was found. There was a tire skid mark on the runway, leading from the runway centerline to the wreckage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N430EP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N430EP), registered now, S/N 17280648 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172R - Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17280648 - Year built: 1998 - Airframe hours: 4759 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Arrow Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Sunshine Holding LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 8, 2021, 12 hours before - Departed: IJD, Windham, CT - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: GON, Groton-New London, runway 05/23, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 62; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 101 total, 101 in this make and model, 8 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.91 inHg - Observed at: GON, 1 nm away - METAR: KGON 132056Z 19007KT 10SM FEW095 20/16 A2991 RMK AO2 SLP127 T02000156 58001 ## 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 20210613007399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210613007399A), Jun 13, 2021: Cessna 172R, Groton, CT, Substantial damage. The accident occurred at the Groton (new London), CT (gon) airport. Aircraft N430EP, 172R, landed on runway 23 and veered off the left side of the runway… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 31, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103254. 4.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12420299&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 457 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12419952&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 3, PDF, 6 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12420442&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.