# NTSB ERA23LA043: Cessna 172M, N4349R, Roberta, GA, October 27, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 27, 2022, 14:15 UTC - Place: Roberta, GA - Coordinates: 32.713596, -84.028539 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7136&lon=-84.0285&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 3 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): 106213 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA043 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106213/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106213 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA043 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain a stabilized approach speed on landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with logs. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/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: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); 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) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was too high on approach to land, so he lowered the flaps and reduced power to idle. He said his groundspeed “seemed a little high” prior to touching down but he continued to land on the 3,500 ft long grass runway. The braking effectiveness on the grass was not good, but the pilot said it was “too late” to go around. The airplane went off the end of the runway and collided with a pile of logs, which resulted in substantial damage to the right-wing spar. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4349R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4349R), registered now, S/N 17263100, built 1974 (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: 17263100 - Year built: 1974 - Airframe hours: 6197 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 3, 2021, 24.9 hours before - Departed: OPN, Thomaston, GA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 0GA9, Gentle Landings Air Park, runway 12, 3,500 × 125 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 79; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 2,795 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: KOPN, 19 nm away - METAR: KOPN 271735Z AUTO 11006KT 10SM CLR 24/09 A3010 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 20221027022599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221027022599A), Oct 27, 2022: Cessna 172M, Roberta, GA, Substantial damage. On October 27th 2022, at approximately 1140 eastern standard time, [privacy data omitted], a 1974 Cessna 172M, s/n 17263100, sustained substantial damage while… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106213. 576 KB in all. - NTSB summary of email - pilot statement to FAA (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15033732&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Summary%20of%20Email%20-%20Pilot%20and%20FAA-Rel.pdf - NTSB summary of email - pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 79 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15033783&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Summary%20of%20Email%20-%20Pilot%20-%20Owner-Rel.pdf - Written statement - FAA inspector (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 179 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15033803&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 239 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15033510&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos-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.