FTW02LA084

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172A · Albuquerque, NM · February 22, 2002

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
February 21, 2002, 18:15 local (Feb 22, 2002, 01:15 UTC)
Place
Albuquerque, NM
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N6845XCessna 172A
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report July 1, 2002
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA FSDO
FAA report
20020221001989A
Case key
54241

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

the pilot's delay in executing a go-around while conducting a simulated emergency landing, which resulted in an in flight collision with terrain.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

In flight collision with terrain/waterGo-around (vfr)
Emergency procedure - simulatedPilot in command
Terrain condition - berm
Go-around - delayedPilot in commandCause
Nose gear collapsedGo-around (vfr)
Nose overGo-around (vfr)

Analysis

During a full flap practice emergency landing, the pilot allowed the airplane to get too low before initiating a go-around, and the main landing gear touched down on a dirt road. The pilot applied full power; however, the airplane veered to the left, and the left main landing gear struck a berm on the side of the road. The pilot selected partial flaps and continued to execute the go-around. The airplane bounced several times, stalled, and struck the ground. The nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest inverted.

Factual narrative

On February 21, 2002, approximately 1815 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172A, single-engine airplane, N6854X, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain during the go-around from a simulated emergency landing near Albuquerque, New Mexico. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot and his passenger did not receive injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The personal flight departed Albuquerque at 1730.

On the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot reported that the airplane was over flat terrain with sparse scrub brush vegetation and several dirt roads. During the performance of a full flap (40 degrees) practice emergency landing, the pilot allowed the airplane to get "too low" before initiating a go-around, and the main landing gear touched down on a dirt road. The pilot applied full power; however, the airplane veered to the left, and the left main landing gear struck a berm on the side of the road. The pilot selected partial flaps and continued to execute the go-around. The airplane bounced several times, stalled, and struck the ground. The nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest inverted.

The FAA inspector, who responded to the site, found the airplane resting upside down in an open field. The vertical stabilizer, rudder, and wings were damaged.

Aircraft

Registration
N6845X
Reported as
Cessna 172A
Category
Airplane
Serial number
47745
Airframe hours
2,923
Engine
Continental O-300-C, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Kristopher J. Ecker
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · January 17, 2002 · 3 hours before
Departed
ABQ · Albuquerque, NM

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
28
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Last flight review
December 19, 2001
Seat
Left
Flight hours
74 total · 74 in this make and model · 30 as pilot in command · 16 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
130° at 5 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
48 °F, dew point 10 °F
Altimeter
30.44 inHg
Observed at
ABQ

Docket · 1

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 5, 2002, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 417 KB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.