# NTSB FTW03LA079: Cessna 172S, N142ME, Springdale, AR, January 8, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 8, 2003, 12:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Springdale, AR - Coordinates: 36.176387, -94.119163 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1764&lon=-94.1192&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Flight Standards District Office (SW11) - NTSB case key (mKey): 56302 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA079 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56302/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56302 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA079 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing. A contributing factor was the prevailing crosswind. ## 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 - object - wall/barricade - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) ## Analysis The 40-hour student pilot was not able to maintain directional control while landing on Runway 18. The student pilot reported, "I had my wind correction in with the right wing dipped and the left rudder pushed. When I landed, I touched the right wheel down and then the left wheel. As soon as I touched the left wheel down, I [applied the brake] and ran off the left side of the runway." The aircraft veered off the runway into the grass, crossed a parallel taxiway, struck a culvert, and came to rest against a concrete ditch. At the time of the accident, the winds at the airport were reported from 240 degrees at 9 knots. ## Factual narrative On January 8, 2003, at approximately 1245 central standard time, a Cessna 172S airplane, N142ME, registered to a private individual and operated by Aviation Enterprises Inc., of Springfield, Missouri, was substantially damaged following a loss of control upon landing on Runway 18 at the Springdale Municipal Airport (ASG), near Springdale, Arkansas. The solo student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional solo cross country flight. The flight originated at 1145 from the Springfield Municipal Airport, Springfield, Missouri. The 40-hour student pilot, who had an accumulated 12 hours in the accident aircraft, reported, "I had my wind correction in with the right wing dipped and the left rudder pushed. When I landed, I touched the right wheel down and then the left wheel. As soon as I touched the left wheel down, I caught the break and ran off the left side of the runway." The aircraft veered off the runway into the grass, crossed a parallel taxiway, struck a culvert, and came to rest against a concrete ditch. The FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, examined the wreckage and reported that the nose gear had buckled the engine firewall. At the time of the accident, the winds at ASG were reported from 240 degrees at 9 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, clear sky, temperature at 15 degrees Celsius, dewpoint 3 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 29.98 inches Mercury. The density altitude was calculated by the Investigator-In-Charge at 1,617 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N142ME](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N142ME-2017-04-04), registration cancelled 2017-04-04, S/N 172S8425, built 2000 (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 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S8425 - Airframe hours: 1551.4 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Aviation Enterprises Inc. - Registered owner: Melvin Humphreys - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 27, 2002, 32.1 hours before - Departed: SGF, Springfield, MO - Destination: ASG - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: ASG, Springdale Municipal Airport, runway 18, 5,302 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 18; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 40 total, 12 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 250,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg ## 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 20030108036899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030108036899A), Jan 8, 2003: Cessna 172S, Springdale, AR, Substantial damage. (-23) On January 8, 2003, at approx. 12:45 CST, a Cessna 172S N142ME operated by aviation enterprises inc. piloted by nathaniel mathis a student pilot with 40… ## Other investigations on N142ME (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI01FA136](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01FA136), May 9, 2001: Cessna 172S (N142ME), Springfield, MO, substantial damage. Probable cause: the excessive touchdown airspeed by the pilot. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 31, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56302. 349 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 318 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40392427&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40392428&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20-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.