# NTSB ERA23LA282: Cessna 172, N734YD, Kennesaw, GA, July 2, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 2, 2023, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Kennesaw, GA
- Coordinates: 34.012548, -84.593917 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0125&lon=-84.5939&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-aborted after 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): 192511
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA282
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192511/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192511
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA282

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s loss of directional control while landing, which resulted 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 172N, 82 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072434), [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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 150 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072434), [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-aborted after touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 81 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 134 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The solo student pilot reported that upon landing, the airplane began “veering toward the left side of the runway.” He attempted to correct with right rudder but was unsuccessful and subsequently attempted to abort the landing. During the maneuver the right main landing gear impacted a runway sign and the airplane touched back down in the grass next to the runway coming to a stop. During the accident sequence, the right horizontal stabilizer was substantially damaged. The owner reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N734YD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N734YD), registered now, S/N 17269213, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (N)
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17269213
- Year built: 1977
- Airframe hours: 13425.1
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 15, 2023, 84 hours before
- Airport: RYY, Cobb County Intl-Mccollum Fld, runway 27, 6,295 × 100 ft, concrete
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 54; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 65 total, 29 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: RYY
- METAR: METAR KRYY 021450Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 27/21 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP160 T02720211      50006 $

## 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 20230702020489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230702020489A), Jul 2, 2023: Cessna 172N, Kennesaw, GA, Substantial damage. While landing at ryy runway 27 the aircraft began to veer left. The pilot was unable to correct with rudder and attempted to perform a go-around. The right…

## Other investigations on N734YD (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 MIA95LA244](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA95LA244), May 31, 1995: Cessna 172N (N734YD), Madison, MS, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE AND/OR IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING.

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 10, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192511. 3.9 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=15805484&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20ERA23LA282_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15804748&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=PIC%20Statement%20-%20Off%20Runway%2007-02-23_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photographs (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15805049&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20ERA23LA282-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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