# NTSB GAA17CA012: Cessna 172, N3379E, Ocean Springs, MS, October 8, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 8, 2016, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Ocean Springs, MS - Coordinates: 30.389999, -88.753608 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3900&lon=-88.7536&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 15, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94174 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA012 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94174/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94174 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA012 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control while landing in windy conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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 172N, 82 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 150 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md) - [Wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/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 172N, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 134 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 44 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during landing the airplane "was pushed violently and unexpectedly to the right". She further reported that she immediately tried to correct with rudder, aileron and power inputs simultaneously. The airplane continued to drift farther to the right of the centerline and contacted several trees along the edge of the airport before the airplane landed nose first onto the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no pre impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the wind at the accident airport was 020 degrees true and 12 nautical miles per hours (knots), and that she was landing on runway 36. The nearest weather reporting station, 9 miles to the northwest, reported wind 360 degrees true and 15 knots. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during landing the airplane "was pushed violently and unexpectedly to the right". She further reported that she immediately tried to correct with rudder, aileron and power inputs simultaneously. The airplane continued to drift farther to the right of the centerline and contacted several trees along the edge of the airport before the airplane landed nose first onto the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no pre impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the wind at the accident airport was 020 degrees true and 12 nautical miles per hours (knots), and that she was landing on runway 36. The nearest weather reporting station, 9 miles to the northwest, reported wind 360 degrees true and 15 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3379E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3379E-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N 17271525, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (N) - 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: 17271525 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 5293.8 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 9, 2016 - Departed: MBT, MURFREESBORO, TN - Destination: 5R2, OCEAN SPRINGS, MS - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 5R2, Ocean Springs, runway 36, 3,500 × 50 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 8, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 83 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KBIX, 9 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 20161008017709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161008017709A), Oct 8, 2016: Cessna 172N, Ocean Springs, MS, Substantial damage. N3379E was enroute from murfreesboro municipal airport (kmbt) to Ocean Springs (5R2) Ms. During landing at 5R2 the aircraft drifted right of the runway about… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 14, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94174. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446389&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 234 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446390&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.