# NTSB FTW02LA171: Cessna 172L, N4261Q, Dalhart, TX, June 2, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 2, 2002, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Dalhart, TX - Coordinates: 36.022777, -102.547225 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0228&lon=-102.5472&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54851 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA171 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54851/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54851 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA171 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing factors were the shifting gusty winds and the ditch. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with weather, landing - roll - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - weather condition - sudden windshift (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot obtained a standard weather briefing which included VFR conditions for the intended route of flight. En route, he observed a developing squall line intersecting the intended route, and he made a decision to divert and land the airplane. Following the "normal touchdown" on the runway, an "extremely strong wind burst accompanied by rain pushed" the airplane onto grass off the left side of the runway. Subsequently, the airplane struck a ditch running perpendicular to the runway before coming to rest nosed over. At the approximate time of the accident, the wind was from 340 degrees at 14 knots with gusts to 30 knots, visibility 2 1/2 statue miles, with heavy thunderstorms and rain showers, and a wind shift with peak gust at 44 knots. ## Factual narrative On June 2, 2002, at 1730 central daylight time, a Cessna 172L, single-engine airplane, N4261Q, was substantially damage when it struck a ditch following a loss of control while landing on runway 17 at the Dalhart Municipal Airport, near Dalhart, Texas. The airplane was owned and operated by Advantage Air Flight Service, Inc., of Flagstaff, Arizona, under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The non-instrument rated private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight, and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed. The personal flight departed Liberal, Kansas, at 1615, with a planned destination of Albuquerque, New Mexico. On the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot reported that prior to his departure from Liberal, he obtained a standard weather briefing which included VFR conditions along his intended route of flight. En route, he was not able to establish radio contact with the flight service station for further weather updates. Due to the developing squall line intersecting the intended route, the pilot elected to divert to Dalhart and land the airplane. The 118-hour pilot reported a "normal touchdown" on runway 17, and then an "extremely strong wind burst accompanied by rain pushed" the airplane onto the grass off the left side of the runway. Subsequently, the airplane struck a ditch running perpendicular to runway 17 and the airplane nosed over coming to rest in the inverted position. Runway 17, at the Dalhart Municipal Airport, is 6,400 feet long and 75 feet wide. The FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported structural damage at the engine firewall, the left wing, and the fuselage. The propeller, nose landing gear, and gear box were also damaged. At 1753, the Dalhart Municipal Airport was reporting the wind from 340 degrees at 14 knots with gusts to 30 knots, visibility 2 1/2 statue miles, with heavy thunderstorms and rain showers, and a wind shift with peak gust at 44 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4261Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4261Q-2008-04-11), registration cancelled 2008-04-11, S/N 17260161, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172L - Registry model: [Cessna 172L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172l) (registry code 2072432) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17260161 - Airframe hours: 4060 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Advantage Air Service, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 15, 2002, 62 hours before - Departed: LBL, Liberal, KS - Destination: AEG, Albuquerque, NM - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: DHT, Dalhart Municipal, runway 17, 6,400 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 10, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 118 total, 115 in this make and model, 55 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 14 knots, gusting 30 - Visibility: 2.5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,900 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 50 °F - Observed at: DHT ## 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 20020602012779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020602012779A), Jun 2, 2002: Cessna 172L, Dalhart, TX, No damage. (-23) On June 02, 2002, at 18:45 central daylite time, N4261Q a Cessna 172L diverted it's intended route from liberal Kansas (lbl) to albuquerque double eagle… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54851. 287 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 287 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442533&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.