# NTSB FTW02LA068: Cessna 172S, N497SJ, Sugar Land, TX, January 12, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 12, 2002, 14:46 local (19:46 UTC) - Place: Sugar Land, TX - Coordinates: 29.622222, -95.394165 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6222&lon=-95.3942&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 7, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 54019 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA068 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54019/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54019 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA068 ## Probable cause the student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - ground - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The student pilot stated that while executing a full stop landing, he reduced power going into the "flare" and "pulled" the controls back. The airplane then touched down on the nose gear and "bounced." He then added power to recover; however, the airplane veered off the right side of the runway and nosed over. ## Factual narrative On January 12, 2002, at 1446 central standard time, a Cessna 172S airplane, N497SJ, registered to and operated by Sugar Land Aviation, Houston, Texas, was substantially damaged following a loss of control while landing roll out on runway 35 at the Sugar Land Airport, Houston, Texas. The solo student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight. The local training flight originated at the Sugar Land Airport at 1335. The student pilot stated that while executing a full stop landing, he reduced power going into the "flare" and "pulled" the controls back while applying right rudder. The airplane then touched down on the nose gear and "bounced." He then added power to recover; however, the airplane veered off the right side of the runway and flipped over. Post accident examination of the airplane reveled that the nose langing gear was torn off the airframe, the engine firewall sustained structural damage and both wing spars were bent. The operator reported that the 36 year old pilot had accumulated a total of 99 flight hours, 71 hours in the same make and model. The student was operating under a 90-day solo endorsement by his flight instructor. The winds at the time of the accident were reported from 340 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 17 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N497SJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N497SJ), registered now, S/N 172S8497, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172S - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0-360-B1E](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0-360-b1e) (registry code 41559, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17258497 - Airframe hours: 253 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Sugarland Aviation Inc. - Registered owner: C & S Air Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 19, 2001, 96 hours before - Departed: SGR, Sugarland, TX - Destination: SGR, Sugarland, TX - Airport: SGR, Sugarland Municipal Arport, runway 35, 8,000 × 100 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 99 total, 71 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 12 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: SGR ## 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 20020112001729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020112001729A), Jan 12, 2002: Cessna 172S, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) Student pilot departed airport for local practice and touch and goes. On second touch and go, pilot tried to raise nose to flare, nose did not come up,… ## Other investigations on N497SJ (3) 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. - [NTSB ERA25LA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA072), Dec 9, 2024: Cessna 172 (N497SJ), Pahokee, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilots' failure to see and avoid the other airplane, which resulted in a midair collision during short final approach. - [NTSB GAA18CA348](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA348), May 29, 2018: Cessna 172 (N497SJ), Orlando, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced, hard landing. - [NTSB ERA17LA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA026), Oct 1, 2016: Cessna 172 (N497SJ), Fort Lauderdale, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper landing flare in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a nose landing gear collapse. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 21, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54019. 848 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 848 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378846&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.