# NTSB FTW03LA220: Cessna 172M, N9651Q, Ardmore, OK, September 11, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 10, 2003, 19:35 local (Sep 11, 2003, 00:35 UTC) - Place: Ardmore, OK - Coordinates: 34.146945, -97.122779 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1469&lon=-97.1228&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 57908 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA220 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57908/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA220 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot to adequately compensate for existing wind conditions. A contributing factor was the gusty crosswind conditions from the east. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - base turn - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained (cause) - In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - base turn - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The aircraft collided with trees while in the airport traffic pattern. According to the pilot, he encountered a downdraft while turning left base for a landing to the runway. Runway 17 is 5,000 feet long and 75 feet wide. Wind was reported by the weather observation facility at 1F0 to be from the southeast at 9 to 11 knots, with gusts to 16 knots. Official sunset was calculated by the Astronomical Applications Department of the U.S. Naval Observatory to be 1943. ## Factual narrative On September 10, 2003, about 1935 central daylight time, a Cessna 172M single-engine airplane, N9651Q, was substantially damaged when it impacted the ground following a loss of control while landing at Ardmore Downtown Executive Airport (1F0) near Ardmore, Oklahoma. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, received minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by Litchfield Flying Ltd., of Ardmore, Oklahoma. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight, which departed 1F0 approximately 1835. In a written statement to the FAA, the 43-hour pilot, who was a visiting German citizen, stated that the airplane "experienced a sudden downdraft" while turning left base for landing to runway 17, and "the next thing I remember, I was sitting in a tree." Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, revealed that the airplane collided with a tree in a residential yard before impacting the ground. The airplane incurred major structural damage to the fuselage, wings, and flight controls. The accident site was located west of the centerline of runway 17, abeam the airport boundary. Runway 17 is 5,000 feet long and 75 feet wide. Wind was reported by the weather observation facility at 1F0 to be from the southeast at 9 to 11 knots, with gusts to 16 knots. Official sunset was calculated by the Astronomical Applications Department of the U.S. Naval Observatory to be 1943. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9651Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9651Q-2005-03-02), registration cancelled 2005-03-02, S/N 17265735, built 1975 (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: 172-65735 - Airframe hours: 8562.5 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Joe T. Litchfield - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 30, 2003, 41.5 hours before - Departed: 1F0, Ardmore - Airport: 1FO, Ardmore Downtown Executive, runway 17, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review April 11, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 43 total, 42 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 140° at 9 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: ADM, 15 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 20030910023529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030910023529A), Sep 10, 2003: Cessna 172M, Ardmore, OK, Destroyed. (-23) Pilot departed Ardmore, OK and flew to gainsville, TX. No landing was made. Pilot returned to Ardmore, OK. Pilot stated she took the left downwind for a… ## Other investigations on N9651Q (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 CHI78DEG19](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI78DEG19), Aug 23, 1978: Cessna 172M (N9651Q), Franklin Furn, OH, substantial damage 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.