# NTSB FTW01LA123: Cessna 172P, N64776, Pleasanton, TX, April 29, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 29, 2001, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Pleasanton, TX - Coordinates: 28.960573, -98.489662 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.9606&lon=-98.4897&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 52312 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW01LA123 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52312/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01LA123 ## Probable cause the student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing flare/touchdown. Contributory factors were the gusty wind and the student pilot's lack of total flight experience. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis The student pilot flew a normal traffic pattern for runway 16. The Unicom reported that the winds were variable at 4 knots; and while on final approach, the pilot verified that there was no crosswind by looking at the windsock. Upon touchdown, a "crosswind gust from 070 degrees began pushing [the] airplane to the right." Subsequently, the airplane exited the runway and came to rest in a ditch. The pilot had accumulated 39.2 flight hours and this was his first solo flight. ## Factual narrative On April 29, 2001, at 1500 central daylight time, a Cessna 172P airplane, N64776, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain after an in flight loss of control while landing at the Pleasanton Municipal Airport, Pleasanton, Texas. The airplane was registered to Christiansen Aviation Inc., of Wilmington, Delaware, and operated by Stinson Air Center, of San Antonio, Texas. The student pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional solo flight. The local flight originated from the Stinson Municipal Airport, San Antonio, Texas, at 1410. The student pilot reported that he departed from the Stinson Municipal Airport and flew to the Pleasanton Municipal Airport. According to the pilot, the Pleasanton Unicom reported wind variable at 4 knots. He flew a normal traffic pattern for runway 16, and on final approach, the airplane was at an airspeed of 65 knots and aligned with the runway centerline. Prior to landing, the pilot verified that the wind was straight down the runway by looking at the windsock. Upon touchdown, a "crosswind gust from 070 degrees began pushing [the] airplane to the right." Subsequently, the airplane exited the runway and impacted a ditch that was 15-20 feet wide and 5 feet deep. The left wing spar was damaged during the impact. The pilot had accumulated 39.2 flight hours, all of which were in the accident make and model airplane. According to the operator, this was the student's first solo flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N64776](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N64776), registered now, S/N 17275621, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17275621 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Stinson Air Center, doing business as N/A - Registered owner: Christiansen Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 5, 2001 - Departed: SSF, San Antonio, TX - Destination: PEZ, Pleasanton, TX - Airport: PEZ, Pleasanton Municipal, runway 16, 3,201 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 39 total, 39 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg ## 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 20010429008599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010429008599A), Apr 29, 2001: Cessna 172P, Pleasanton, TX, No damage. (.19)On April 29, 2001, at 1500 central daylight time, a Cessna 172P airplane, N64776, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain while landing at the… 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.