# NTSB FTW03LA176: Cessna 172M, N753MF, Beaumont, TX, June 22, 2003

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 22, 2003, 12:53 local (17:53 UTC)
- Place: Beaumont, TX
- Coordinates: 29.950834, -94.020553
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9508&lon=-94.0206&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 57289
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA176
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57289/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=57289
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA176

## Probable cause

The instructor's delay in executing a go-around and his  failure to maintain aircraft control due to inadequate compensation of wind gusts.  A contributing factor was the gusty winds.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, landing
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - go-around - delayed, pilot in command(cfi)
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

The 4,582-hour flight instructor who was occupying the right seat, reduced engine power at mid-field to simulate an engine failure for the 18-hour student pilot that was flying the airplane from the left seat.  As the airplane rolled out on final landing.   The flight instructor noted that the airplane was "approximately 200 feet high" when the student pilot  stated that he felt "uncomfortable."  The flight instructor reported that as he took command of the airplane and added full engine power, a gust of wind pushed the airplane to the right and south of the runway.  The airplane then struck the ground and bounced.  Approximately 80 knots and 60 feet of altitude, the airplane's left wing dropped, and the flight instructor then "chopped the power and fuel."  The airplane impacted the ground and come to rest upright off the runway.  At the time of the accident, the wind was reported from 120 degrees and 9 knots.

## Factual narrative

On June 22, 2003, about 1253 central daylight time, a Cessna 172M single-engine airplane, N753MF, was substantially damaged when it impacted the ground between runway 12 and runway 16, following a loss of control while practicing a simulated forced landing at Southeast Texas Regional Airport (BPT), near Beaumont, Texas.  The flight instructor received serious injuries, and his student pilot received minor injuries.  The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight, which originally departed BPT approximately 1245.

According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the 4,582-hour flight instructor who was occupying the right seat, reduced engine power at mid-field to simulate an engine failure for the 18-hour student pilot that was flying the airplane from the left seat.  As the airplane rolled out on final landing to runway 12 (6,750 x 150 feet), the flight instructor noted that the airplane was "approximately 200 feet high" when the student pilot  stated that he felt "uncomfortable."  The flight instructor reported that as he took command of the airplane and applied full engine power, a gust of wind pushed the airplane to the right and south of the runway.  The flight instructor further reported that the airplane then struck the ground and bounced.  Approximately 80 knots and 60 feet of altitude, the airplane's left wing dropped, and he then "chopped the power and fuel."  The airplane came to rest in an area south of the intersection of runway 12 and runway 16.

At 1253, the weather observation facility at BPT reported the wind from 120 degrees at 9 knots.

Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, revealed structural damage to both wing spars.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N753MF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N753MF-2008-11-04), registration cancelled 2008-11-04, S/N 172-64109, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 64109
- Airframe hours: 8641
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 30, 2003, 40 hours before
- Departed: BPT, Beaumont, TX
- Destination: BPT, Beaumont, TX
- Airport: BPT, Southeast Texas Regional, runway 12, 6,750 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 51; injuries: serious; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 20, 2003; seat: right; flight hours: 4,582 total, 1,466 in this make and model, 4,542 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days
- Student pilot; age 42; injuries: minor; seat: left; flight hours: 18 total, 18 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 77 °F
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observed at: BPT

## 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 20030622014359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030622014359A), Jun 22, 2003: Cessna 172M, Beaumont Port A, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) Attempted to land on runway 12 during simulated engine out. Approach extended past the threshold of r/w 12. Aircraft continued ground, both main and nose…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 4, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=57289. 1.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475310&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.

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