# NTSB FTW99LA090: Cessna 172N, N5803E, Orange, TX, March 6, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 6, 1999, 14:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Orange, TX - Coordinates: 30.099107, -93.75077 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0991&lon=-93.7508&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 23, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45873 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW99LA090 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45873/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA090 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing touchdown. A factor was the muddy drainage ditch. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - terrain condition - wet (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) ## Analysis The student pilot lost control of the airplane during a touch-and-go landing. The student reported that on his first attempted landing, he had applied right rudder to compensate for 'a small amount of westerly wind.' 'Immediately upon touchdown, the plane veered hard to the right and off of the runway.' He applied 'full power, raised flaps, removed carburetor heat and climbed out.' During the second touchdown, the aircraft veered right, and exited the runway. After exiting the runway, the aircraft encountered mud in a shallow ditch, and the nose gear separated. The aircraft nosed over and came to rest inverted. ## Factual narrative On March 6, 1999, at 1445 central standard time, a Cessna 172N airplane, N5803E, was substantially damaged during landing at the Orange County Airport, Orange, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 solo instructional flight. The airplane was registered to and operated by Baldwin Aviation, Inc. of Orange, Texas. The student pilot, sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured. The local flight originated at 1415. The student pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, that he was practicing touch-and-go landings on runway 04. On the first landing, he had applied right rudder to compensate for "a small amount of westerly wind. Immediately upon touchdown, the plane veered hard to the right and off of the runway. I distinctly remember hearing the stall indicator, so I feel like the plane must have been in a nose up attitude." He applied "full power, raised flaps, removed carburetor heat and climbed out to the east." During the second touchdown, the aircraft veered right, and exited the runway. After exiting the runway, the aircraft encountered mud in a "small shallow drainage depression (shallow ditch)," and the nose gear separated. The aircraft nosed over and came to rest inverted. The student pilot reported that the winds were light and variable at the time of the accident. Examination of the aircraft by the operator revealed that the firewall, vertical stabilizer, and both wings were damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5803E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5803E), registered now, S/N 17271938, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17271938 - Airframe hours: 1393 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Baldwin Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 25, 1999, 15 hours before - Departed: ORG - Airport: ORG, Orange County, runway 4, 4,396 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 24 total, 24 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F - Observed at: BPT, 13 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 19990306002079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990306002079A), Mar 6, 1999: Cessna 172N, Orange, TX, Substantial damage. Acft ran off the side of the rwy after landing and flipped over. Other circumstances are unknown. (.19) on March 6, 1999, at 1445 central standard time, a… 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.