# NTSB FTW04LA008: Cessna 172H, N3760R, Manvel, TX, October 15, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 15, 2003, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Manvel, TX - Coordinates: 29.479722, -95.326942 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4797&lon=-95.3269&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58160 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW04LA008 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58160/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA008 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during the attempted go-around resulting in an inadvertent stall. A contributing factor was the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the crosswind landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - crosswind - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr) - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis While landing on a grass turf runway, the pilot lost directional control and attempted a go-around. During the attempted go-around, the airplane stalled and impacted the terrain. The pilot stated the airplane touched down on the runway centerline, and then drifted to the left. The pilot attempted a go-around; however, shortly after the airplane became airborne, the left wing dropped and impacted the terrain. At the time of the accident, the airport manager reported the wind was a direct crosswind from approximately 110 degrees at 15 knots and gusting. On his NTSB Form 6120.1/2, Recommendation (How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented) section, the pilot reported, "Better control by pilot during crosswind landing." ## Factual narrative On October 15, 2003, approximately 1500 central daylight time, a Cessna 172H single-engine airplane, N3760R, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control during an attempted go-around from the Wolfe Air Park, near Manvel, Texas. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant and registered owner of the airplane, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight departed the Natchitoches Regional Airport, Natchitoches, Louisiana, at 1200, and was destined for Manvel. The multi-leg cross-country flight originated from the Roscoe Turner Memorial Airport, Corinth, Mississippi. According to an FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site and interviewed the 300-hour pilot, the pilot over flew runway 20 and elected to land on runway 2 (Runway 2/20 is a grass turf runway; 2,910 feet long and 80 feet wide). The pilot stated the airplane touched down on the runway centerline, and then drifted to the left. The pilot attempted a go-around; however, shortly after the airplane became airborne, the left wing dropped and impacted the terrain. The airplane became airborne again for approximately 150 feet, and then the nose, right wing tip, and right horizontal stabilizer impacted the terrain. The airplane came to rest upright approximately 30 feet from where the nose impacted, on a measured magnetic heading of 140 degrees. At the time of the accident, the airport manager reported the wind was a direct crosswind from approximately 110 degrees at 15 knots and gusting. According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot stated the wind shifted to a straight crosswind at the time of touchdown. Subsequently, he lost control of the airplane, attempted a go-around, stalled, and impacted the terrain on the left side of the runway. On his NTSB Form 6120.1/2, Recommendation (How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented) section, the pilot reported, "Better control by pilot during crosswind landing." At 1453, the Clover Field (LVJ), Houston, Texas, automated surface observing system (ASOS), located 5 nautical miles northeast of the accident site, reported the wind from 110 degrees at 7 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, sky clear, temperature 75 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 57 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 30.10 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3760R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3760R-2013-04-02), registration cancelled 2013-04-02, S/N 17255560 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172H - Registry model: [Cessna 172H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172h) (registry code 2072424) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17255560 - Engines: Continental O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Glendower Goddard - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 14, 2003, 8.5 hours before - Departed: IER, Natchitoches, LA - Destination: 3T2, Manvel, TX - Airport: 3TA1, Wolfe Air Park, runway 02, 2,910 × 80 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review December 7, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 300 total, 225 in this make and model, 232 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 11 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 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 20031015030259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031015030259A), Oct 15, 2003: Cessna 172H, Cypress, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot, said he lost control of the CE-172 during a crosswind landing to the 2800 x 100 foot grass runway. Several eyewitnesses described the 90… 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.