# NTSB FTW04LA145: Cessna 172, N61663, Levelland, TX, May 31, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 31, 2004, 10:40 local (15:40 UTC) - Place: Levelland, TX - Coordinates: 33.551387, -102.370002 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5514&lon=-102.3700&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 59330 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW04LA145 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59330/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA145 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control and his inadequate compensation for the winds. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The solo student pilot lost control of the single-engine airplane while landing with a left crosswind. The 33-hour student pilot reported that he configured the airplane with 10 degrees of flaps and airspeed at 80 knots for a second touch and go landing on Runway 17. The pilot stated that he landed on the 6,110-foot by 75-foot wide runway with a prevailing crosswind from 100 degrees at 8 knots. Upon landing, the airplane bounced and began to "float." The airplane touched down a second time, and began to skid to the right. The pilot stated, "I lost control of the plane, and it went off the runway." Wind conditions at the time of the accident were reported from 120 degrees at 13 knots. ## Factual narrative On May 31, 2004, approximately 1040 central daylight time, a Cessna 172M single-engine airplane, N61663, registered to a private individual and operated by Levelland Aviation, of Levelland, Texas, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control while landing on runway 17 at the Levelland Municipal Airport (LLN), near Levelland, Texas. The solo student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional solo flight. According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the student pilot reported that he configured the airplane with 10 degrees of flaps at an airspeed at 80 knots for a second touch and go landing on Runway 17. The student pilot reported that the winds were from 100 degrees at about 8 knots as he attempted to land on the 6,110-foot by 75-foot wide runway with a prevailing left crosswind. The pilot added that upon touchdown the airplane bounced and began to "float" to the right of centerline. The airplane touched down a second time, and began to skid to the right. The pilot stated, "I lost control of the plane, and it went off the runway" The aircraft impacted a large drainage ditch, then came to rest in the upright position. The operator reported that the student pilot had accumulated a total of 33 hours of total flight time, of which 26 hours were in the accident make and model. A review of the pilot's training records revealed that the student pilot was found to be properly endorsed for this flight, which was his third solo flight. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who traveled to the accident site, revealed that the main bolt on the left main landing gear had sheared, both spars on the left stabilizer were bent and wrinkled, and the fairing between the vertical fin and the fuselage was cracked into two pieces. A review of the aircraft logbooks did not reveal any discrepancies. Weather conditions at LLN at 1053 were reported as winds from 120 degrees at 13 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 24 degrees Celsius, dew point 0 degrees Celsius, with an altimeter setting of 29.98 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N61663](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N61663), registered now, S/N 17264712, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - 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: 64712 - Airframe hours: 5248 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Levelland Aviation - Registered owner: Gregory Burnstein - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2003, 80 hours before - Departed: LLN, Levelland, TX - Destination: LLN, Levelland, TX - Airport: LLN, Levelland Municipal Airport, runway 17, 6,110 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 50; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 33 total, 26 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: LBB ## 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 20040531008139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040531008139A), May 31, 2004: Cessna 172M, Levelland, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On may 31, 2004, at approximately 1040 CDT, a student pilot was attempting solo flight touch-and-go at the Levelland Municipal Airport, Levelland, Texas.… 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.