# NTSB FTW00LA021: Cessna 172M, N5301E, Pineville, LA, October 29, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 28, 1999, 19:00 local (Oct 29, 1999, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Pineville, LA - Coordinates: 31.329311, -92.40982 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.3293&lon=-92.4098&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 22, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47649 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW00LA021 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47649/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA021 ## Probable cause The student pilot's misjudgment of distance/speed during approach resulting in his failure to attain the proper touchdown point. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - distance/speed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis A witness reported that during one of a series of full stop landings on the hard surface 3,000 foot runway, the solo student pilot 'came in high and fast with no flaps.' The airplane touched down approximately 900 feet from the departure end of the runway. The student pilot stated that he applied the brakes after touchdown, but 'did not feel the airplane slowing down.' Witnesses 'heard him braking the aircraft as the tires skidded 2 or 3 times.' The airplane exited the north end of the runway, went down an embankment, and struck a ditch. ## Factual narrative On October 28, 1999, approximately 1900 central daylight time, a Cessna 172M airplane, N5301E, was substantially damaged when it impacted a ditch and a fence during landing roll at the Pineville Municipal Airport, Pineville, Louisiana. The airplane was owned by Hartford Holding Group of Wilmington, Delaware, and was operated by Most High Aviation of Pineville, Louisiana. The student pilot, sole occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 solo instructional flight. A flight plan was not filed for the local flight, which originated from the Pineville Municipal Airport at 1730. According to the student pilot's statement, he had made several full stop landings on runway 36, a 3,000 foot asphalt runway. The student pilot stated that he applied the brakes after touchdown, but "did not feel the airplane slowing down." He executed a "short-field landing technique (pulled back on the yoke while pressing brake pedals)." The student pilot "then tried applying brakes again." The airplane exited the north end of the runway, went down an embankment, and struck a ditch. Subsequently, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane slid into a fence. A witness stated that on the approach, the student pilot "came in high and fast with no flaps." The student pilot made "a good flare and touched down on the mains; shortly before the 2nd 1000 foot marker." The witness "heard him braking the aircraft as the tires skidded 2 or 3 times." The FAA inspector traced the tire marks from the initial touchdown point to where the airplane came to rest. The airplane's initial touchdown point was approximately 900 feet from the departure end of runway 36. The FAA inspector observed "three flat spots" on the right main landing gear tire. The operator stated that the left wing spar was damaged and the firewall was buckled. The operator's Director of Maintenance examined the brakes and reported that the left brake was "operating normally" and the right brake was "soft with no movement at the brake caliper." Both right brake pads were found to be worn beyond limits. However, evidence of flat spots on the right main landing gear tire led the Director of Maintenance to "believe the right brake as well as the left were working properly at the time of the accident." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5301E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5301E), registered now, S/N 17271827, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172M - 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: 17271827 - Airframe hours: 4735 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Most High Aviation - Registered owner: Hartford Holding Group - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 16, 1999, 23 hours before - Departed: 9LA6 - Airport: 9LA6, Pineville, runway 36, 3,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 76 total, 69 in this make and model, 13 as pilot in command, 65 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F ## 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 19991028042989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991028042989A), Oct 28, 1999: Cessna 172N, Pineville, LA, No damage. (-23) On October 28, 1999, a Cessna 172 was substantially damaged when the pilot ran off the runway at Pineville, Louisiana. The student pilot, Mr. James allen… 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.