# NTSB GAA17CA248: Cessna 172S, N796SP, Jean, NV, April 28, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 28, 2017, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Jean, NV - Coordinates: 35.767223, -115.330833 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7672&lon=-115.3308&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 14, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 95080 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA248 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95080/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95080 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA248 ## Probable cause The pilot’s runway selection, which resulted in landing with a tailwind and an unstabilized approach and subsequent runway overrun. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Decision related to condition; cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/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 172S, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); 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) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he chose to make an emergency landing due to his passenger not being responsive. He added that, during the landing, he "shot over and ended up in the grass at the end of the runway." The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation station located about 16 miles northeast of the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 340° at 20 knots, gusting to 32 knots. The pilot reported that the landing was on runway 20. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he elected to make an emergency landing due to his passenger not being responsive. He added that added that during the landing he "shot over and ended up in the grass at the end of the runway". The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation station located about 16 miles north east the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 340° at 20 knots, wind gusts at 32 knots. The pilot reported that the landing was on runway 20. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N796SP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N796SP), registered now, S/N 172S8720, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S (S) - 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: 172S8720 - Year built: 2001 - Airframe hours: 7147.8 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Santa Monica Flyers - Registered owner: Opensky Airways LLC. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 20, 2017 - Departed: 0O2, BAKER, CA - Destination: HND, LAS VEGAS, NV - Airport: 0L7, Jean, runway 20R, 4,600 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 28, 2016; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 117 total, 43 in this make and model, 69 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 20 knots, gusting 32 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 7 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: KHND, 16 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 20170428003869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170428003869A), Apr 28, 2017: Cessna 172S, Jean, NV, Substantial damage. On April 28, 2017, about 12:55 pacific standard time (PST), a Cessna 172S, N796SP, impacted the terrain during an attempted visual flight rules (VFR) landing… ## Other investigations on N796SP (1) 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. - [NTSB WPR10CA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA230), May 3, 2010: Cessna 172S (N796SP), Palo Alto, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control and the certified flight instructor’s delayed response to the student pilot's loss of control during the takeoff roll. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 19, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95080. 4.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457153&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 291 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457154&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457155&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.