# NTSB ERA24LA090: Cessna 172, N512SP, Mooresville, NC, January 14, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 14, 2024, 12:38 local (17:38 UTC) - Place: Mooresville, NC - Coordinates: 35.613947, -80.899531 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6139&lon=-80.8995&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - 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): 193666 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA090 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193666/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193666 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA090 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during a go-around in gusting crosswind conditions. ## 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 172S, 206 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 49 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 118 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was attempting to land the airplane on a 3,170-ft-long by 40-ft-wide runway and reported that while on final approach he encountered a “heavy gusty crosswind.” The pilot described that after passing a tree line and realizing that he would not be able to land, he attempted a go-around. The last thing the pilot remembered was the airplane impacting trees. The airplane received substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and its empennage structure. Two witnesses to the accident stated that shortly after initiating the go-around, the airplane turned to the left, missing the trees lining the runway, but then impacted trees approximately 500-ft left of the runway centerline within the residential area of the air park community. The witnesses also described that the airplane started the go-around attempt near the midpoint of the runway. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N512SP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N512SP), registered now, S/N 172S8371, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (S) - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S8371 - Year built: 2000 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 1, 2023 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 14A, Lake Norman Airpark, runway 14, 3,147 × 40 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 7, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 153 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 10 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Turbulence: Severe - Observed at: SVH, 9 nm away - METAR: KSVH 141725Z AUTO 22010G15KT 10SM CLR 11/M05 A3002 RMK AO2 T01091054 ## 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 20240114002919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240114002919A), Jan 14, 2024: Cessna 172S, Mooresville, NC, Substantial damage. On 14 January 2024 at approximately 12:17 local time the pilot of the accident aircraft attempted to land rwy 14 at Lake Norman Airpark (14A) with reported… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 12, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193666. 107 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 10.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16847957&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01_ERA24LA090%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16846987&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02_ERA24LA090%20MOR%20with%20Pilot-Rel.pdf - Witness statements (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16847386&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03_ERA24LA090%20Hofer%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Witness statements 2 (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 173 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16846901&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=04_ERA24LA090%20Hounslow%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16847721&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=05_ERA24LA090%20Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Ring camera 1 (item 6, MOV, 67.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16847584&FileExtension=MOV&FileName=06_RingVideo%201-Rel.MOV - Ring camera 2 (item 7, MP4, 26.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16847752&FileExtension=MP4&FileName=07_RingVideo%202-Rel.MP4 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.