# NTSB GAA16CA194: Cessna 172, N2663X, Stillwater, OK, April 15, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 15, 2016, 18:32 local (23:32 UTC) - Place: Stillwater, OK - Coordinates: 36.168609, -97.086944 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1686&lon=-97.0869&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 15, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 93041 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA194 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93041/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93041 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA194 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in gusty crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with a runway distance remaining sign. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 75 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 9,308 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 3,969 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate; cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,014 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate; cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,130 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,514 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 4,590 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 3,656 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 10,154 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot reported that while landing in gusty crosswind conditions the airplane bounced multiples times on touchdown. The student pilot further reported that the airplane drifted off the runway to the right and impacted a runway distance remaining sign with the right elevator, which resulted in substantial damage to the elevator. An automated weather observing station at the accident airport, about the time of the accident, reported the wind at 120 degrees true at 16 knots, gusting to 21 knots, which resulted in a 14 knot crosswind component for the landing on runway 17. The student pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The flight school's policies and procedures in part states: "All flights, excluding stage 2 pilot, will use the "maximum demonstrated" crosswind in the aircraft [Pilot's Operating Handbook] POH/ [Airplane Flying Manual] AFM as the maximum allowable crosswind takeoff limit." The student pilot was not a "stage 2 pilot" and had no additional crosswind limitations listed in his logbook endorsements. The Cessna 172R maximum demonstrated crosswind was listed as 15 knots. According to the flight instructor, the student pilot has demonstrated satisfactory performance in previous instructional flights under similar wind conditions. ## Factual narrative The solo student pilot reported that while landing in gusty crosswind conditions the airplane bounced multiples times on touchdown. The student pilot further reported that the airplane drifted off the runway to the right and impacted a runway distance remaining sign with the right elevator, which resulted in substantial damage to the elevator. An automated weather observing station at the accident airport, about the time of the accident, reported the wind at 120 degrees true at 16 knots, gusting to 21 knots, which resulted in a 14 knot crosswind component for the landing on runway 17. The student pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The flight school's policies and procedures in part states: "All flights, excluding stage 2 pilot, will use the "maximum demonstrated" crosswind in the aircraft [Pilot's Operating Handbook] POH/ [Airplane Flying Manual] AFM as the maximum allowable crosswind takeoff limit." The student pilot was not a "stage 2 pilot" and had no additional crosswind limitations listed in his logbook endorsements. The Cessna 172R maximum demonstrated crosswind was listed as 15 knots. According to the flight instructor, the student pilot has demonstrated satisfactory performance in previous instructional flights under similar wind conditions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2663X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2663X), registered now, S/N 17280643, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (R) - Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17280643 - Year built: 1999 - Airframe hours: 10924.3 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Spartan Education LLC. - Registered owner: Spartan Education LLC. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 29, 2016 - Departed: MLC, McAlester, OK - Destination: SWO, Stillwater, OK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: SWO, Stillwater Rgnl, runway 17, 7,401 × 100 ft, concrete - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 25; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 47 total, 47 in this make and model, 47 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 16 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg - Observed at: KSWO ## 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 20160415005139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160415005139A), Apr 15, 2016: Cessna 172R, Stillwater, OK, Substantial damage. The student pilot attempted to land at Stillwater regional airport on 04/15/2016 at 6:21 pm on runway 17 in heavy crosswind conditions during a solo flight. He… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 9, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93041. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 914 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40440989&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (Flight Instructor) (item 2, .PDF, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40440991&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Flight%20Instructor)-Master.PDF - Flight School Policies and Procedures Wind Factors (item 3, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40440993&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20School%20Policies%20and%20Procedures%20Wind%20Factors-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 1 photo, 161 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40440994&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%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.