# NTSB FTW95LA062: Cessna 172B, N7697X, Seguin, TX, December 7, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 7, 1994, 16:40 local (22:40 UTC) - Place: Seguin, TX - Coordinates: 29.569084, -97.959136 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5691&lon=-97.9591&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 19, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19319 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19319/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA062 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - initiated, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - berm ## Analysis THE COMMERCIAL PILOT LANDED LONG, 'HALF WAY DOWN', THE 2,200 FOOT GRASS RUNWAY. WHEN HE REALIZED THAT HE WAS GOING TO RUN OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY HE DELIBERATELY GROUND LOOPED THE AIRCRAFT. HE DID NOT ABORT THE LANDING BECAUSE HE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE SAFER TO CONTINUE WITH THE LANDING ROLL. ## Factual narrative On December 7, 1994, approximately 1640 central standard time, a Cessna 172B, N7697X, was substantially damaged during landing near Seguin, Texas. The airplane, owned by one of the passengers and flown by a commercial pilot, was on a personal flight. There was no flight plan filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. Neither the pilot nor the two passengers were injured. During in an interview, conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, and in his written report the pilot stated that the flight had originated at the New Braunfels Municipal Airport, New Braunfels, Texas, and the intended destination was the Elm Creek Airpark, Seguin, Texas. He further reported that he made three passes over the airport, to determine the wind direction, prior to landing on runway 36. He stated that the "touchdown was half way down" the 2,200 foot runway. At some point following the touchdown the pilot felt that a "go around was more dangerous than continuing the landing roll." As the aircraft proceeded down the runway the pilot realized that he was going to "over run runway so he elected to ground loop the aircraft." He further reports that the "aircraft was nearly stopped when it went over the edge of the berm at the north end of the runway." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7697X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7697X), registered now, S/N 17248197, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172B - Registry model: [Cessna 172B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172b) (registry code 2072406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17248197 - Airframe hours: 4412 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Decker, Sidney - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 22, 1994, 31 hours before - Departed: 3R5, NEW BRAUNFELS, TX - Airport: OTX6, Elm Creek Airpark, runway 36, 2,200 × ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 904 total, 26 in this make and model, 781 as pilot in command, 52 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SAT, 12 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 19941207040979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941207040979A), Dec 7, 1994: Cessna 172B, Seguin, TX, Substantial damage. Landed long on wet grass runway. Slid off end down hill sliding sideways. Wing impacted ground. ## Other investigations on N7697X (2) 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 OAK72FVW18](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK72FVW18), Nov 17, 1971: Cessna 172B (N7697X), Las Vegas, NV, substantial damage - [NTSB OAK72DVW07](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK72DVW07), Aug 1, 1971: Cessna 172 (N7697X), Independnce, CA, 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.