# NTSB FTW97LA175: Cessna 172P, N53359, Austin, TX, May 4, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 4, 1997, 08:20 local (13:20 UTC) - Place: Austin, TX - Coordinates: 30.299024, -97.690071 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2990&lon=-97.6901&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 2, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20207 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA175 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20207/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA175 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. A factor was the pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - weather condition - crosswind - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis During a short field landing approach at 60 mph airspeed and full flaps as 'gusty winds lifted the left wing and the airplane rolled left,' the pilot applied full power; however, the airplane struck the ground. Winds were from the northeast at 6 to 8 knots and the approach was made to runway 36. A pilot, taxiing for departure, reported the airplane 'stalled striking the ground in a nose down and left wing down attitude' short of the runway. This pilot reported winds were light and variable at less than 5 knots. ## Factual narrative On May 4, 1997, at 0820 central daylight time, a Cessna 172P, N53359, owned by a private owner and operated by Adventure Aviation under Title 14 CFR Part 91, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control during the final approach at Austin Executive Airpark, Austin, Texas. The private pilot and sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight and a flight plan was not filed for the flight which departed from the airport 5 minutes before the accident. Telephone interviews, conducted by the investigator-in-charge, revealed that the pilot departed the airport for a series of touch and goes on runway 36 with the winds from the northeast at 6 to 8 knots. According to the pilot, the winds were variable during the downwind pattern (1,600 feet MSL). The first approach was a short field landing at 60 mph airspeed with full flaps extended on short final at 25 feet AGL. The pilot stated that "gusty winds lifted the left wing and the airplane rolled left." The pilot applied full power; however, the left wing struck the ground, the airplane bounced, the right wing hit the ground and the nose gear collapsed as the airplane slid to a stop in the mud at 50 to 100 feet left of runway 36. A pilot, taxiing to runway 36, first observed N53359 on final approach at approximately 100 feet AGL in a nose high attitude. He further observed that at 20 to 25 feet AGL, the airplane "stalled striking the ground in a nose down and left wing down attitude" short of the runway, the airplane bounced, and the right wing struck the ground before the airplane came to rest. This pilot reported the winds were light and variable at less than 5 knots. The FAA inspector examined the airplane and found that both wings were bent upward and the right wing was damaged at the rear attachment point. The lower skin area of the wings, cabin, and engine cowling was buckled upward and the outboard portion of the right aileron was bent. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N53359](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N53359-1998-07-11), registration cancelled 1998-07-11, S/N 17274726, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17274726 - Airframe hours: 6964 - Engines: Lycoming O-329-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: David Shaw, doing business as Adventure Aviation - Registered owner: Andres Jose Trevino - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 18, 1997, 80 hours before - Airport: 3R3, Austin Executive Airpark, runway 36, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 897 total, 8 in this make and model, 645 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: AUS, 7 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 19970504007709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970504007709A), May 4, 1997: Cessna 172P, Austin, TX, Substantial damage. Practicing touch and go landings when a gust of wind caused it to land hard and nose over. (.4)during a short field landing approach at 60 mph airspeed and… 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.