# NTSB FTW02LA203: Cessna 172B, N7550X, Denton, TX, July 8, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 8, 2002, 12:02 local (17:02 UTC) - Place: Denton, TX - Coordinates: 33.194721, -97.198059 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1947&lon=-97.1981&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Teledyne Continental Motors, Cessna Aircraft Company, FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55167 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA203 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55167/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55167 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA203 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudgment of distance and altitude. Contributing factors were the pilot's diverted attention and the runway localizer antenna. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - flare/touchdown - distance/altitude - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - airport facility (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the approach for landing, he was distracted by an aircraft taking off on the same runway. The pilot stated that he was high and fast and with flaps extended the aircraft was floating down the runway. Touch down was made toward the end of the runway. The aircraft was still traveling at a high speed when it ran off the end of the runway and collided with the localizer antenna located approximately 300 feet from the end of the runway edge. The aircraft came to rest approximately 108 feet beyond the antenna. Tire marks were noted on the runway about 271 feet from the end of the runway pavement. Tire tracks through the grass indicated a slight left turn just prior to the aircraft colliding nearly centered through the localizer antenna length. During the post accident examination, no evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction was noted. ## Factual narrative On July 8, 2002, at 1202 central daylight time, a Cessna 172B single-engine airplane, N7550X, sustained substantial damage when it collided with the localizer antenna after overrunning the runway at the Denton Municipal Airport, Denton, Texas. The private pilot received minor injuries, and the sole passenger received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditionals prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 local personal flight, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Denton Municipal at 1100. During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that after completing the local flight, he returned to the airport. Two low passes were made over runway 17, but no landings were made because an aircraft was on the runway. The pilot reported that he was making radio transmissions over the local frequency while in the pattern. While setting up for the third approach, another aircraft advised the pilot that his transmissions were garbled and hard to understand. The pilot continued the approach to runway 17 as the aircraft on the runway began its takeoff roll. The pilot stated that he knew that he was high and fast, and with the flaps extended, the aircraft was floating down the runway. The pilot reported that he was distracted by the other aircraft taking off and thought that he touched down with about 1,500 feet of remaining runway. After touch down, the pilot stated that he was going too fast and ran off the end of runway 17. The aircraft subsequently collided with the localizer antenna located approximately 300 feet off the end of runway 17. The aircraft continued approximately 108 feet beyond the antenna before coming to rest. Law enforcement personnel reported that three sets of tire marks were located on the runway beginning at approximately 271 feet from the end of the runway pavement, indicating the aircraft had initially touched down and bounced twice. Tire tracks through the grass indicated a slight left turn just prior to the aircraft colliding nearly centered through the localizer antenna length. A witness located in a business hangar located between taxiways A5 and A6, stated that he observed the aircraft centered over runway 17 at about 100 feet above ground level. The witness stated that "the aircraft was in a fairly steep angle of descent and appeared to have a fairly high airspeed." The aircraft touched down in a level attitude near the end of the runway and traveled off the end and through the localizer antenna. Post accident documentation of the aircraft noted that both propeller blades were bent, and the nose gear was separated. The left wing lift strut was observed bent at approximately a 45 degree angle, the left and right wing leading edges were damaged, and the entire windscreen was broken. Pieces of the antenna penetrated the cabin. The left and right main landing gear remained attached to the fuselage. The nose gear steering tube assemblies remained attached to the rudder pedal and brake assembly. Continuity was established between the steering rods and the rudder pedals. Both the right and left side tires rotated freely. Flat spots were noted on both tires. The flat spot on the left tire was more pronounced than on the right. Both brake discs were inspected prior to a functional test. The brakes were applied in the cockpit and the left and right wheels would not turn. Runway 17/35 is a 5,999 foot long and 150 foot wide asphalt surface. The runway elevation is 642 feet. The localizer antenna is located at the approach end of runway 35 in the critical area. At the time of the accident the weather conditions reported at the airport were a clear sky with visibility at nine statute miles. The temperature was 33 degrees Celsius and the winds were variable at four knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7550X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7550X-2012-10-19), registration cancelled 2012-10-19, S/N 17248050, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172B - Registry model: [Cessna 172B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172b) (registry code 2072406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17248050 - Airframe hours: 5842 - Engines: Continental O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Maurice H. Lundy - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 25, 2001, 63 hours before - Departed: DTO, Denton, TX - Airport: DTO, Denton Municipal Airport, runway 17, 5,999 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 81; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 15, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 1,800 total, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: DTO ## 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 20020708021909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020708021909A), Jul 8, 2002: Cessna 172B, Denton, TX, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. (-23) On 07-08-02 at 11:30 a Cessna model 172B, registration number N7550X owned by maurice h. lundy whose [privacy data omitted] was involved in an accident.… ## Docket (17 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 9, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55167. 4.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 271 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461152&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461153&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Witness Statement (item 3, .PDF, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461154&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Master.PDF - Denton Police Department Report (item 4, .PDF, 131 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40182381&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Denton%20Police%20Department%20Report-Master.PDF - Airport Diagram with Accident Location (item 5, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40182383&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Diagram%20with%20Accident%20Location-Master.PDF - Cessna Aircraft Report (item 6, .PDF, 219 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40182384&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cessna%20Aircraft%20Report-Master.PDF - Continental Motors Report (item 7, .PDF, 77 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461155&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Continental%20Motors%20Report-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 8, .PDF, 351 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461156&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 9, .PDF, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461157&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Master.PDF - Photo 1. View from end of runway 17 to wreckage location. No Negative (item 10, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40182388&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20%20View%20from%20end%20of%20runway%2017%20to%20wreckage%20location.%20%20No%20Negative-Master.PDF - Photo 2. View of damaged localizer antenna. No Negative (item 11, .PDF, 113 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40182390&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20%20View%20of%20damaged%20localizer%20antenna.%20%20No%20Negative-Master.PDF - Photo 3. Side view of localizer antenna. No Negative (item 12, .PDF, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40182391&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20%20Side%20view%20of%20localizer%20antenna.%20No%20Negative-Master.PDF - Photo 4. View of localizer antenna and final resting point of aircraft. No Negative (item 13, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40182392&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204.%20%20View%20of%20localizer%20antenna%20and%20final%20resting%20point%20of%20aircraft.%20%20No%20Negative-Master.PDF - Photo 5. Forward view of aircraft. No Negative (item 14, .PDF, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40182393&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205.%20%20Forward%20view%20of%20aircraft.%20%20No%20Negative-Master.PDF - Photo 6. Left side view of aircraft. No Negative (item 15, .PDF, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40182394&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%206.%20%20Left%20side%20view%20of%20aircraft.%20%20No%20Negative-Master.PDF - Photo 7. Rear view of aircraft. (item 16, .PDF, 133 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40182395&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%207.%20%20Rear%20view%20of%20aircraft.-Master.PDF - Photo 8. Right side view of aircraft. No Negative (item 17, .PDF, 81 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40182396&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%208.%20%20Right%20side%20view%20of%20aircraft.%20%20No%20Negative-Master.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.