# NTSB FTW88LA041: Cessna 172XP, N736AN, Godley, TX, December 23, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 23, 1987, 15:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place: Godley, TX
- Coordinates: 32.440082, -97.520355 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4401&lon=-97.5204&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 16, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22602
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW88LA041
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22602/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88LA041

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather evaluation - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - in flight weather avoidance assistance - not obtained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - precautionary landing - attempted, pilot in command
- Nose gear collapsed, landing
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

DURING A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE WEATHER WORSENED.  VISIBILITY DECREASED AND THE CEILING LOWERED, FORCING THE PILOT TO DESCEND IN ORDER TO REMAIN VFR.  THE PILOT ELECTED TO PERFORM A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN A FIELD.  DURING LANDING ROLL THE PILOT NOTICED A POST AND CULVERT IN HIS PATH.  HE ADDED POWER AND ROTATED NOSE UP, BECOMING AIRBORNE, MISSING THE POST AND CULVERT BUT LANDING HARD ON THE NOSE GEAR. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE ACFT NOSED DOWN AND TO THE LEFT, DAMAGING THE LEFT WING SPAR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N736AN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N736AN), registered now, S/N R1722374, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172XP
- Registry model: [Cessna R172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r172k) (registry code 2072431) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: R1722374
- Airframe hours: 1384
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-360-K 195 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Joe H. Griffin
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 7, 1987, 25 hours before
- Departed: FDO, BONHAM, TX
- Destination: F55, GRANBURY, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 182 total, 48 in this make and model, 150 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 18 knots, gusting 22
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft overcast
- Temperature: 64 °F
- Observed at: FTW

## 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 19871223072459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871223072459A), Dec 23, 1987: Cessna R172K, Godley, TX, Substantial damage. Encountered IFR conditions. Precautionary landing in field. Added power to clear obstacles. Hard landing. Nosed up.

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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