# NTSB GAA17CA277: Cessna 172, N23759, Boca Raton, FL, May 12, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 12, 2017, 13:50 local (17:50 UTC) - Place: Boca Raton, FL - Coordinates: 26.376667, -80.108612 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.3767&lon=-80.1086&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 20, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 95168 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA277 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95168/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95168 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA277 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane while landing with a tailwind. ## 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: [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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot reported that, while on final, "there was turbulence," and "just before landing [he] felt a strong crosswind pushing [him] to the right." Subsequently, the airplane touched down, veered off the right side of the runway, encountered a small ditch, and impacted a fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system at the accident site reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 180° at 10 knots. The pilot landed on runway 5. ## Factual narrative The solo student pilot reported that while on final "there was turbulence" and "just before landing [he] felt a strong crosswind pushing [him] to the right". Subsequently, the airplane touched down, veered off the right side of the runway, encountered a small ditch, and impacted a fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system at the accident site, about the time of the accident, reported the wind at 180° at 10 knots. The pilot landed on runway 5. ## Aircraft - Registration: N23759 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (R) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17281275 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 4801.7 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 11, 2017 - Departed: BCT, Boca Raton, FL - Destination: BCT, Boca Raton, FL - Airport: BCT, Boca Raton, runway 5, 6,276 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 53 total, 53 in this make and model, 1.2 as pilot in command, 25.7 in the last 90 days, 8.6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: BCT, 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). - [Incident 20170512004949I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170512004949I), May 12, 2017: Cessna 172R, Boca Raton, FL, Minor damage. Student pilot lost control of aircraft during touch and goes and veered off the right side of runway 05 and into the swale area and then impacted the airport… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 28, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95168. 5.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 5.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453812&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 241 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453813&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.