# NTSB FTW03LA175: Cessna 172L, N912KD, San Antonio, TX, June 22, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 22, 2003, 10:44 local (15:44 UTC) - Place: San Antonio, TX - Coordinates: 29.283611, -98.500274 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.2836&lon=-98.5003&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57272 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA175 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57272/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA175 ## Probable cause The pilot misjudged his altitude and airspeed, and his failure to perform a go-around. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - emergency procedure - simulated, pilot in command - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - fence post - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot was simulating a forced landing from the downwind position for runway 31. He set the power at idle and turned the airplane towards the runway. During the landing on the 2,880-foot long by 100-foot wide grass airstrip, he landed the airplane "long and fast, failed to stop, and hit [a] fence post at the end of the runway." The operator/owner safety recommendation block stated "Better pilot judgment, electing to do a go-around rather than land long." The weather observation facility at the departure airport, reported the wind from 180 degrees at 8 knots, and the density altitude was calculated at 2,352 feet. ## Factual narrative On June 22, 2003, approximately 1044 central daylight time, a Cessna 172L single-engine airplane, N912KD, was substantially damaged during a landing overrun while landing on runway 31 at a private grass airstrip near San Antonio, Texas. The airplane was registered to Hank Aero Ventures, LLC., of San Antonio, Texas, and was being operated by Check Six Aviation, Inc., of San Antonio, Texas, and was being flown by a private individual under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot received serious injuries, and his passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight departed Stinson Municipal Airport (SSF), San Antonio, Texas, approximately 1015. On the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the operator reported that the pilot departed SSF and flew the airplane approximately 8 nautical miles southwest to Cannon Field (53TX). Cannon Field features a single 2,88-foot long by 100-foot wide grass/turf runway oriented in a 130/310 heading. The operator added, that upon arrival at Cannon Field, the pilot landed the airplane "long and fast, failed to stop, and hit [a] fence post at the end of the runway." The operator/owner safety recommendation block suggested that "better pilot judgment, electing to do a go-around rather than land long" could have prevented the accident. On the Passenger Statement (NTSB Form 6120.9), the passenger reported that the pilot was simulating a loss of engine power emergency landing from the downwind position in the traffic pattern. The 2,249-hour pilot set the power at idle and turned the airplane toward the runway. At touchdown, the flaps had not been lowered and the tires on the green grass were sliding. The passenger added that "it was apparent that the airplane was not slowing down enough to avoid the fence and gate at the end of the runway." The FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, found the airplane resting against an embankment on the west end of Cannon Field. Perpendicular to the departure end of the runway was a fence with an iron gate. The left wing strut was found bent, the upper wing skin buckled, and the leading edge crushed aft to the main spar. The right wing rear spar was bent, and the fuselage was buckled aft of the rear seats. At 1053, the weather observation facility at SSF reported wind from 180 degrees at 8 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clouds broken at 2,400 feet, broken at 3,100 feet, temperature 28 degrees Celsius (82 degrees Fahrenheit), dew point 23 degrees Celsius ( 73 degrees Fahrenheit), and the altimeter setting 29.86 inches Mercury. The investigator-in-charge estimated the density altitude at 2,352 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N912KD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N912KD-2012-04-11), registration cancelled 2012-04-11, S/N 17259316, built 1970 (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: 17259316 - Airframe hours: 4468 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Check Six Aviation, Inc. - Registered owner: Hank Aero Ventures, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 22, 2003, 59 hours before - Departed: SSF, San Antonio, TX - Airport: 53TX, Cannon Field, runway 31, 2,880 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 8, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 2,249 total, 145 in this make and model, 2,249 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,400 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: SSF, 8 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 20030622012709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030622012709A), Jun 22, 2003: Cessna 172L, San Antonio, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot attempted an intentional downwind landing with flaps up on grass strip. One passenger was onboard. Pilot touched down at mid-field. Aircraft… 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.