# NTSB FTW00LA088: Cessna 172K, N46469, Alpine, TX, February 26, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 26, 2000, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Alpine, TX
- Coordinates: 30.359439, -103.660621 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3594&lon=-103.6606&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 48696
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW00LA088
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48696/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA088

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during landing.  A factor was the crosswind condition.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - variable wind
  - weather condition - dust devil/whirlwind
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch

## Analysis

Upon returning to the home airport from the round robin cross-country flight, the solo student pilot bounced the airplane during the crosswind landing.  Subsequently, the airplane departed runway 01 and rolled into a drainage ditch.  The crosswind was from 300 degrees at 8 knots.  Other pilots reported variable winds and dust devils in the area.  The student pilot was endorsed for the flight, and had accumulated 70.1 total flight hours of which 48 hours were in the accident make and model of aircraft.

## Factual narrative

On February 28, 2000, at 1130 central standard time, a Cessna 172K, single-engine airplane, N46469, departed the runway during the landing and struck a ditch near Alpine, Texas.  The airplane was owned and operated by a private individual under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 solo instructional flight.  The student pilot, sole occupant, received minor injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight.  A VFR flight plan was filed.  The round robin flight originated at Alpine, Texas, with an en route stop at Odessa, Texas.

The student pilot and his flight instructor reported to the FAA inspector that during the landing on runway 01 at the Alpine Municipal Airport, the airplane veered to the left, drifted into the grass, and struck a ditch.  Winds were gusting from the west northwest.  The student pilot had a total flight time of 71 hours of which 48 hours were in the accident make and model of aircraft.  The FAA inspector found structural damage to the firewall and the fuselage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N46469](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N46469-2000-08-02), registration cancelled 2000-08-02, S/N 17257290 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172K
- Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17257290
- Airframe hours: 9980
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: George P. Vose
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: ODO, ODESSA, TX
- Destination: E38
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: E38, Alpine-Casparis Municipal, runway 1, 6,003 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 17; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 70 total, 65 in this make and model, 12 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: E38

## 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 20000226010129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000226010129A), Feb 26, 2000: Cessna 172K, Alpine, TX, No damage. (-23) Student pilot failed to correct for crosswinds or possible gusts and thermals. Aircraft was allowed to drifted off the downwind edge of the runway and…

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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