# NTSB FTW03LA116: Cessna 172B, N6947X, Tulsa, OK, March 26, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 26, 2003, 16:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Tulsa, OK - Coordinates: 36.138889, -95.824996 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1389&lon=-95.8250&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 23, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 56691 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA116 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56691/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA116 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command ## Analysis The single-engine airplane stalled during the landing flare/touchdown, bounced into the air, then touched down again, nosed over and came to rest inverted. The pilot stated that he let the airplane get to slow on the approach and it could have been prevented by "receiving more dual training on crosswind/gusts, short field landings, also recovery from slow flight stalls." ## Factual narrative On March 26, 2003, approximately 1630 central standard time, a Cessna 172B single-engine airplane, N6947X, was substantially damaged following a loss of control while landing the airplane at the Harvey Young Airport (1H6), Tulsa, Oklahoma. The airplane was owned by a private individual and operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight departed the Harvey Young Airport, approximately 1612, and entered the downwind pattern for touch and go landings on the grass runway 17. The pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that during the second landing, the pilot reported that he "felt the airplane sink and the stall warning horn sound". The pilot added full power, and the airplane touched down on the runway with the left main landing gear and nose landing gear, bounced into the air, and the pilot retarded the throttle. Subsequently, the airplane touched down on the runway with the right main landing gear and nose landing gear and nosed over coming to rest inverted. The pilot further reported that he let the airplane get to slow and stalled the airplane above the touchdown point. The pilot stated in the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 under the Recommendation (How This Accident Could Have Been Prevented) section: "receive more dual training on crosswind/gusts, short field landings, also recovery from slow flight stalls." The FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, found the left wing strut, vertical stabilizer, and rudder bent. The propeller, engine cowling, windshield, nose landing gear, and fuselage skin were found damaged. At 1553, the local weather observation facility at the Tulsa International Airport (TUL), located approximately 5 miles northwest of 1H6, reported the wind from 190 degrees at 11 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, few clouds at 25,000 feet, temperature 21 degrees Celsius, dew point 01 degrees Celsius, and the altimeter 29.91 inches of Mercury. The pilot reported that the wind was from 190 degrees at 11 knots with gusts to 15 knots at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6947X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6947X-2003-12-10), registration cancelled 2003-12-10, S/N 17247847, 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: 17247847 - Engines: Continental O-300D 148 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kirk A. Myers - Registered owner: Kaz Pienkos, et al - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 1H6, Tulsa, OK - Airport: 1H6, Harvey Young, runway 17, 2,580 × 80 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review September 23, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 125 total, 68 in this make and model, 73 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: TUL, 5 nm away ## 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 20030326004969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030326004969A), Mar 26, 2003: Cessna 172B, Tulsa, OK, Substantial damage. (-23) On March 26, 2003, at approximately 1630 CST, a Cessna 172, N6947X was substantially damaged following a hard landing and subsequent overturn during… ## Other investigations on N6947X (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 FTW92LA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW92LA038), Dec 5, 1991: Cessna 172B (N6947X), Tulsa, OK, substantial damage. Probable cause: CLEARANCE WAS NOT MAINTAINED AND THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A WIRE. A FACTOR WAS THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN STOLEN BY TWO UNKNOWN INDIVIDUALS. 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.