# NTSB ERA24LA192: Cessna 172, N684SP, Zelienople, PA, April 20, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 20, 2024, 16:24 local (20:24 UTC) - Place: Zelienople, PA - Coordinates: 40.799803, -80.160189 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7998&lon=-80.1602&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 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): 194148 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA192 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194148/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194148 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA192 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate compensation for the gusting crosswind condition during landing. ## 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 172S, 66 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072439), [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 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) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); 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. - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis While inbound to the airport the pilot stated that he listened to the automated terminal information service, which indicated that the wind was from 290° at 11 kts with gusts to 20 kts. The pilot selected runway 35 for the landing, and to compensate for the wind, he added an extra 5 knots to the approach speed. After passing the runway threshold during the final approach, while about 20 feet above the runway surface, the airplane suddenly rolled to the right and the right wingtip contacted the ground. The pilot further described that he thought that the airplane had encountered a significant wind shear. He then leveled the wings and added power to abort the landing, but the airplane impacted the runway several seconds later. The airplane came to rest in the grass to the left of the runway and the airplane’s fuselage and right wing were substantially damaged during the accident sequence. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A surface weather observation taken about 9 minutes before the accident reported wind from 310° at 12 kts, with gusts to 17 kts. The wind conditions reported during the hour preceding and the hour following the accident included similar gusting crosswind conditions, with some directional variability/shearing reported about 40 minutes before and 1 hour after the accident time. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N684SP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N684SP), registered now, S/N 172S8095, built 1999 (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: 172S8095 - Year built: 1999 - Airframe hours: 6219 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Condor Aero Club Inc - Registered owner: Condor Aero Club Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 6, 2024, 18 hours before - Departed: UNV, State College, PA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: PJC, Zelienople Municipal Airport, runway 35, 4,933 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 16, 2022; seat: left; flight hours: 206 total, 205 in this make and model, 132 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 12 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KPJC, 0.14 nm away - METAR: KPJC 202015Z AUTO 31012G17KT 10SM SCT055 10/M02 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 20240420005439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240420005439A), Apr 20, 2024: Cessna 172S, Zelienople, PA, Substantial damage. On April 20, 2024, at 16:22 local time a Cessna 172 impacted the ground while attempting to land at Zelienople airport (pjc) in Zelienople, Pennsylvania. There… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 2, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194148. 18.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 9.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17869547&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1%20Master%20Form%20Fm%20Web%204%206%202022_Recd%206%2010%202024_Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB record of conversation (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 152 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17869914&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FINAL%20Record%20of%20Convo%20w%20Matthew%20E%20Kinkead%205%2020%202024%20v01_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA record of conversation (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 406 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17869136&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Record%20of%20Conversation-1%20Pg_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - factual weather information (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17870178&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FINAL%20Memo%20For%20Record%20-%20Weather%20Information%20v01-Rel.pdf - Federal aviation administration (FAA) automatic dependent surveillance a�� broadcast (ADS-B) tabular data (item 5, XLSX, 7.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17870528&FileExtension=xlsx&FileName=20240420_A913B1_547011276_ADSB-Rel.xlsx - FAA inspector statement (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 170 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17869631&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 7, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 913 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17873062&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs%20v01-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 288 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17870124&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Fully%20Exctd%20Wreckage%20Release%20Form_ERA24LA192_Redacted-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.