# NTSB FTW02LA084: Cessna 172A, N6845X, Albuquerque, NM, February 22, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 21, 2002, 18:15 local (Feb 22, 2002, 01:15 UTC) - Place: Albuquerque, NM - Coordinates: 35.100383, -106.519058 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1004&lon=-106.5191&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 1, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54241 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA084 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54241/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54241 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA084 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr) - emergency procedure - simulated, pilot in command - terrain condition - berm - go-around - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - Nose gear collapsed, go-around (vfr) - Nose over, go-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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6845X-2002-04-15), registration cancelled 2002-04-15, S/N 47745, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172A - Registry model: [Cessna 172A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172a) (registry code 2072404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 47745 - Airframe hours: 2923 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; 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 ## 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 20020221001989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020221001989A), Feb 21, 2002: Cessna 172A, Los Lunas, NM, Substantial damage. (.19) On February 21, 2002, approximately 1815 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172A, single-engine airplane, N6854X, sustained substantial damage following a… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 5, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54241. 417 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 417 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389552&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.