# NTSB ERA22LA111: Cessna 172M, N20312, Louisville, KY, January 30, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: January 30, 2022, 13:56 local (18:56 UTC)
- Place: Louisville, KY · runway/taxiway
- Coordinates: 38.227984, -85.663749 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2280&lon=-85.6637&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 FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104576
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA111
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104576/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104576
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA111

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing in cross wind conditions.

## Findings

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

- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: crosswind correction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 184 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/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 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)

## 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 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)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was practicing touch and go landings from the right seat. During landing, there was a right cross wind that he did not correct for, and the airplane veered left off the runway and into a sign. During the impact, the left main landing gear fractured and rotated backwards, and the left horizontal stabilizer forward spar was substantially damaged.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N20312](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N20312), registered now, S/N 17261182, built 1972 (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: 17261182
- Year built: 1972
- Airframe hours: 9887
- Engines: Lycoming 0-320-E2D 150 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Cardinal Wings Aviation LLC
- Registered owner: Cardinal Wings Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 19, 2021
- Airport: LOU, Bowman Fld, runway 24, 4,358 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 31, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 288 total, 250 in this make and model, 235 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observed at: KLOU
- METAR: KLOU 301853Z 25007KT 10SM CLR 06/M04 A2989 RMK AO2 SLP125 T00611044

## 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 20220130001329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220130001329A), Jan 30, 2022: Cessna 172M, Louisville, KY, Substantial damage. Pilot [privacy data omitted] was practicing touch and goes at Bowman Field (lou) in a CS172M on runway 24. During the landing phase he lost control of the…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 25, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104576. 2.6 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=13233049&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 108 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13191807&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Interview-pilot-Rel.pdf
- FAA inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 92 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13191978&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20statement-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 225 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13908197&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photo%27s-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.

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