# NTSB GAA17CA482: Cessna 172, N91966, Kearney, NE, August 2, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 2, 2017, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Kearney, NE
- Coordinates: 40.752223, -99.000831 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7522&lon=-99.0008&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 March 14, 2018
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 95793
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA482
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95793/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95793
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA482

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion.

## 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 · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 75 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 9,295 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, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/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: 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, 4,585 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, 3,643 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, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, just after touchdown, he lost directional control of the airplane. The airplane exited the right side of the runway and collided with a taxiway sign. The airplane's lower right fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that just after touchdown, he lost directional control of the airplane. The airplane exited the right side of the runway and collided with a taxiway sign. The airplane's lower right fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N91966](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N91966), registered now, S/N 17281616 (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 IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17281616
- Year built: 2012
- Airframe hours: 1568.3
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Beers Investment Group Inc
- Registered owner: Beers Investment Group Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 21, 2017
- Departed: KSLN, Salina, KS
- Destination: KEAR, Kearney, MA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: EAR, Kearney Rgnl, runway 18, 7,094 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 14, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 142 total, 142 in this make and model, 52 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observed at: KEAR, 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 20170802012739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170802012739A), Aug 2, 2017: Cessna 172R, Kearney, NE, Substantial damage. On August 2, 2017, at 4:30 pm CST, a Cessna 172, N91966, was involved in an accident at the Kearney regional airport (kear), Kearney, Nebraska. The PIC was…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 30, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95793. 3.6 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=40459638&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Photo (item 2, .PDF, 147 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459639&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.

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