# NTSB GAA16CA052: Cessna 172S, N905CP, Alcoa, TN, November 5, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 4, 2015, 19:45 local (Nov 5, 2015, 00:45 UTC) - Place: Alcoa, TN - Coordinates: 35.8125, -83.987777 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8125&lon=-83.9878&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Airport occurrence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/070) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 14, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 92338 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA052 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92338/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92338 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA052 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to identify the taxiway, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with terrain while turning off the runway at night. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md) - [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Taxi-from runway: Airport occurrence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/070) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/070/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/070/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a night flight, the pilot reported that after he landed on the runway, he slowed the airplane to taxi speed, and continued to the taxiway turnoff. The pilot misidentified the taxiway turn and turned off the runway into a grass area between the runway and taxiway. The pilot reported that the grass area had a downslope that led to level ground and he felt a bump from the tail as the airplane transitioned from the downslope to level ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative During a night flight, the pilot reported that after he landed on the runway, he slowed the airplane to taxi speed, and continued to the taxiway turnoff. The pilot misidentified the taxiway turn and turned off the runway into a grass area between the runway and taxiway. The pilot reported that the grass area had a downslope that led to level ground and he felt a bump from the tail as the airplane transitioned from the downslope to level ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N905CP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N905CP), registered now, S/N 172S8329, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S8329 - Year built: 1999 - Airframe hours: 2669 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Civil Air Patrol Inc - Registered owner: Civil Air Patrol Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 11, 2015 - Departed: TYS, Alcoa, TN - Destination: TYS, Alcoa, TN - Airport: TYS, Mc Ghee Tyson, runway 23L, 8,997 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 4, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 10,061 total, 200 in this make and model, 7,666 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 210° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 5 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: KTYS, 1 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 20151104018439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151104018439A), Nov 4, 2015: Cessna CE-172S, Alcoa, TN, Substantial damage. The pilot, a civil air patrol member, was completing some night currency. He stated he landed on rwy 23L and the controller instructed him to give way to a… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 8, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92338. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436477&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 220 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436478&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF 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.