# NTSB FTW04LA178: Cessna 172S, N810SA, San Antonio, TX, June 24, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 24, 2004, 13:35 local (18:35 UTC) - Place: San Antonio, TX - Coordinates: 29.336944, -98.471107 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3369&lon=-98.4711&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 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 59592 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW04LA178 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59592/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA178 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - airport sign/marker ## Analysis After a third take-off from runway 14, the 76-hour student pilot flew a left hand traffic pattern and lined up for a short-field landing, aiming for the "second stripe" of runway 14. As the pilot retracted the flaps after touching down, he "lost control of the airplane to the right." He applied light brakes, and "didn't want to make any other movement to the rudder" because he was already in the grass to the right of the runway. The airplane impacted a taxiway sign and spun around. At the time of the accident, the winds were reported as variable, at 3 knots. ## Factual narrative On June 24, 2004, at 1335 central daylight time, a Cessna 172S single-engine airplane, N810SA, was substantially damaged following a loss of control while landing on runway 14 at Stinson Municipal Airport (SSF), near San Antonio, Texas. The student pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was registered to Black Hound LLC, of Seguin, Texas, and was being operated by Wright Flyers Aviation, Inc., of San Antonio, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The local flight originated from the San Antonio International Airport (SAT), near San Antonio, Texas, approximately 1230. The 76-hour student pilot stated in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that he departed SAT, flew to SSF, and completed 2 stop-and-go's on runway 14 (a 4,128 feet long and 100 feet wide asphalt runway). The student pilot took off a third time, in a left hand traffic pattern and lined up for a short-field landing, aiming for the "second stripe" of runway 14. As the pilot retracted the flaps after touching down, he "lost control of the airplane to the right" and applied light brakes, stating that he "didn't want to make any other movement to the rudder" because he was already in the grass to the right of the runway. The airplane impacted a taxiway sign and spun around. After the airplane came to a complete stop, the student pilot shut-down the engine and exited the airplane. Examination of the wreckage by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident site, revealed structural damage to the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator, and damage to the right main landing gear attach point. At the time of the accident, the winds were reported as variable, at 3 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N810SA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N810SA), registered now, S/N 172S9422, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172S - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S-9422 - Airframe hours: 256.2 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Wright Flyers Aviation, Inc., doing business as Wright Flyers Academy - Registered owner: Black Hound LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 4, 2004, 37.7 hours before - Departed: SAT, San Antonio, TX - Destination: SSF, San Antonio, TX - Airport: SSF, Stinson Municipal Airport, runway 14, 4,128 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 76 total, 76 in this make and model, 56 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: SSF ## 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 20040624018209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040624018209A), Jun 24, 2004: Cessna 172S, San Antonio, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) The student pilot was attempting a solo short field landing. The aircraft bounced on touchdown and veered off to the right and departed the runway. The… 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.