# NTSB FTW00LA240: Cessna 172P, N98873, San Antonio, TX, August 21, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 21, 2000, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: San Antonio, TX - Coordinates: 29.319589, -98.470237 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3196&lon=-98.4702&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 19, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50057 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW00LA240 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50057/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA240 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control during landing. A factor was the reported wind gust. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis After about 45 minutes of uneventful flight, the pilot was practicing touch and go landings on Runway 14. While starting to flare on the third landing, a right cross-wind 'gust' pushed the airplane to the left. The airplane floated to the left, off the side of the runway, as the pilot attempted to correct by raising the nose and applying right rudder. Subsequently, the left main landing gear made contact with the ground and collapsed, resulting in the airplane skidding across a taxiway. The 148-hour pilot did not state that he had any cross-wind problems during the first two touch and go landings, nor did he state that there were any mechanical or control problems with the airplane. Examination of the airplane revealed structural damage to the tail and horizontal stabilizer. Wind reported, 23 minutes after the accident, was from 140 degrees at 9 knots with no gusts. ## Factual narrative On August 21, 2000, approximately 1600 central daylight time, a Cessna 172P airplane, N98873, was substantially damaged following a loss of control while landing on Runway 14 at the Stinson Municipal Airport, San Antonio, Texas. The pilot, who held a valid Mexican private pilot certificate, and his pilot-rated passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight originated from the San Antonio International Airport at 1515. According to the pilot, the accident occurred while he was practicing touch and go landings at the Stinson Airport. During a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported the following sequence of events of the accident: While starting to flare on the third landing, a right cross-wind "gust" pushed the airplane to the left. The airplane floated to the left, off the side of the runway, as the pilot attempted to correct by raising the nose and applying right rudder. Subsequently, the left main landing gear made contact with the ground and collapsed, resulting in the airplane skidding across a taxiway. The 148-hour pilot did not state that he had any cross-wind problems during the first two touch and go landings, nor did he state that there were any mechanical or control problems with the airplane. Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed structural damage to the tail and horizontal stabilizer. At 1623, the reported winds at Stinson Airport were from 140 degrees at 9 knots with no gusts. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N98873](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N98873), registered now, S/N 17276369, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17276369 - Airframe hours: 1895 - Engines: Lycoming O-320D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Alpha Tango Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 15, 2000, 20 hours before - Departed: SAT, TX - Destination: SSF - Airport: SSF, Stinson Municipal, runway 14, 4,128 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; foreign; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 130 total, 30 in this make and model, 40 as pilot in command, 64 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 99 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SSF ## 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 20000821039799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000821039799A), Aug 21, 2000: Cessna 172P, San Antonio, TX, Substantial damage. (.4)On August 21, 2000, approximately 1600 central daylight time, a Cessna 172P airplane, N98873, was substantially damaged following a loss of control while… 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.