# NTSB FTW02LA058: Cessna 172, N5181R, New Braunfels, TX, December 17, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 17, 2001, 15:25 local (21:25 UTC) - Place: New Braunfels, TX - Coordinates: 29.704444, -98.042221 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7044&lon=-98.0422&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 2, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 53936 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA058 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53936/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA058 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll. A contributing factor was the soft terrain. ## 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 - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis This was the 30-hour student pilot's second supervised solo flight. The student pilot stated that he set up for a normal approach to runway 36, landing on the first 1,000 feet of the runway. Just after landing, the airplane veered to the right 15 - 20 degrees. The airplane exited the right side of the runway, crossed a taxiway, impacted soft terrain, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The wind at the time of the accident was reported to be from 350 degrees at 7 knots. ## Factual narrative On December 17, 2001, at 1525 central standard time, a Cessna 172 single-engine airplane, N5181R, was substantially damaged when it impacted soft terrain following a loss of directional control during the landing roll at the New Braunfels Municipal Airport, New Braunfels, Texas. The airplane was owned and operated by Wright Flyers Holding LLC 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 solo instructional flight. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. In a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the 30-hour student pilot and his instructor, who witnessed the accident, reported that this was the student's first landing during his second supervised solo. A left hand traffic pattern was flown to runway 36. The student pilot stated that after landing, within the first 1,000 feet of the 5,364 foot runway, the aircraft, "for some reason," veered 15 - 20 degrees to the right. The airplane exited the runway, proceeded across a taxiway, impacted soft terrain, and nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The wind at the time of the accident was reported to be from 350 degrees at 7 knots. The left wing's rear spar sustained structural damage during the impact. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5181R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5181R), registered now, S/N 17263398, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17263398 - Airframe hours: 6475.5 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Wright Flyers Holdings LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 16, 2001, 71.8 hours before - Departed: BAZ, New Braunfels, TX - Airport: BAZ, New Braunfels Muni Airport, runway 36, 5,364 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: none; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 24 total, 24 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: BAZ ## 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 20011217037469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011217037469A), Dec 17, 2001: Cessna 172, New Braunfels, TX, No damage. (.19) On December 17, 2001, at 1530 central standard time, a Cessna 172 single-engine airplane, N5181R, was substantially damaged when it impacted a ditch,… 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.