# NTSB FTW02LA115: Cessna 172S, N960TA, Angel Fire, NM, April 10, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 10, 2002, 12:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Angel Fire, NM - Coordinates: 36.421943, -105.289718 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.4219&lon=-105.2897&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54489 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA115 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54489/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54489 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA115 ## Probable cause The pilots failure to maintain directional control during the crosswind landing. A contributing factor was the gusting wind condition. ## 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 - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis While landing the airplane experienced a strong gust of wind. Subsequently, the airplane veered to the right and exited the runway. The airplane impacted a 4-foot deep drainage ditch that runs parallel to the runway, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The wind was reported by the airport UNICOM to be from 240 degrees at 19 knots. ## Factual narrative On April 10, 2002, at 1215 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172S single-engine airplane, N960TA, was substantially damaged when it impacted a ditch while landing at the Angel Fire Airport (AXX) near Angel Fire, New Mexico. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight originated from Albuquerque, New Mexico, at 1100, with AXX as its destination. The 151-hour pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that upon entering the airport traffic area, the UNICOM operator reported the wind from 240 degrees at 19 knots, and he elected to land on runway 17 (8,900 feet long by 100 feet wide). The pilot stated that a few seconds after landing, he experienced a strong gust of wind. Subsequently, the airplane veered to the right and exited the runway towards a 4-foot deep drainage ditch that runs parallel to the runway. The airplane impacted the ditch, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The pilot further reported in the Recommendation (How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented) section of the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 that "landing at an alternate airport" could have prevented this accident. An examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, revealed the airplane's vertical stabilizer, rudder, and propeller were damaged and the left wing spar was bent. The nose of the airplane was also damaged, and the nose landing gear was displaced aft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N960TA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N960TA), registered now, S/N 172S8960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172S - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S8960 - Airframe hours: 76 - Engines: Textron Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Edward R. McCracken - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 8, 2001, 76 hours before - Departed: ABQ, Albuquerque, NM - Destination: AXX, Angel Fire, NM - Airport: AXX, Angel Fire, runway 17, 8,900 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review September 6, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 151 total, 150 in this make and model, 80 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 19 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F ## 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 20020410005179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020410005179A), Apr 10, 2002: Cessna 172S, Angel Fire, NM, No damage. (.19) On April 10, 2002, at 1200 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172S single-engine airplane, N960TA, was substantially damaged when it impacted a ditch while… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 7, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54489. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427445&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.