# NTSB ERA22LA324: Cessna 172P, N62405, Lawrenceville, GA, July 17, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 17, 2022, 14:25 local (18:25 UTC) - Place: Lawrenceville, GA - Coordinates: 33.978091, -83.96236 - 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: 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): 105529 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA324 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105529/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105529 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA324 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing with a crosswind. ## 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 172P, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072436), [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 172P, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072436), [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; cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that he performed a straight-in approach for landing at the conclusion of his first solo cross-country flight. At the time, a 6-knot, left crosswind was reported at the field. Prior to touchdown, the airplane was “on the correct glide path” with the flaps fully deployed. While in the landing flare and just prior to touchdown, the nose of the airplane “shifted left” and the airplane touched down headed off the left side of the runway. The pilot said he briefly corrected, but eventually the airplane performed a runway excursion to its left coming to rest upright in the grass. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the nose landing gear mount structure. The pilot reported there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N62405](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N62405), registered now, S/N 17275263, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17275263 - Year built: 1981 - Airframe hours: 25813 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Flight School Of Gwinnett Inc - Registered owner: Flight School Of Gwinnett Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 28, 2022, 57 hours before - Departed: KAND, Anderson, SC - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: LZU, Gwinnett County - Briscoe Fld, runway 25, 6,001 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 33 total, 33 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KLZU - METAR: SPECI KLZU 171818Z 13006KT 10SM BKN060 31/21 A3007 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 20220717022409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220717022409A), Jul 17, 2022: Cessna 172P, Lawrenceville, GA, Substantial damage. On July 17, 2022 at approximately 16:10 local time, [privacy data omitted], a Cessna 172, piloted by a student pilot returning from a solo cross-country… ## Other investigations on N62405 (1) 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. - [NTSB FTW82DA361](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW82DA361), Sep 1, 1982: Cessna 172P (N62405), Plainview, TX, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 24, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105529. 4.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14278247&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N62405%20NTSB%20Report%20sent_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 960 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14277753&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20II-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.