# NTSB ERA23LA386: Cessna 172, N9522L, Greensboro, GA, September 30, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 30, 2023, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Greensboro, GA
- Coordinates: 33.59797, -83.13826 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5980&lon=-83.1383&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200)
- 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): 193170
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA386
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193170/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193170
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA386

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a light pole during taxi.

## Findings

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

- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: pole](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Taxi-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)

## Analysis

Shortly after landing, while taxing to the ramp to park, the solo student pilot was going to turn the airplane 180° to orient it with the parking spot. During the turn, the airplane’s left wing impacted a light pole resulting in substantial damage to wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9522L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9522L), registered now, S/N 17276570 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (P)
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17276570
- Year built: 1986
- Airframe hours: 6356
- Engines: Air Plains STC SA4428SW 180 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 31, 2023
- Departed: CEU, Clemson, SC
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: CPP, Greene County Regional airport, runway 7, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 62 total, 62 in this make and model, 54 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observed at: AHN, 23 nm away
- METAR: KAHN 301551Z 08004KT 10SM CLR 28/17 A3019 RMK AO2 SLP217 T02780172

## 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 20230930020749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230930020749A), Sep 30, 2023: Cessna 172P, Greensboro, GA, Substantial damage. On September 30, 2023, approximately 1235, student pilot on a cross country SOL0 flight. Landed at Greensboro regional airport (kcpp), student pilot taxied…

## Other investigations on N9522L (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 ERA22LA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA021), Sep 11, 2021: Cessna 172P (N9522L), Kennesaw, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 9, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193170. 2.7 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=16194513&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 559 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16193784&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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