# NTSB GAA18CA141: Cessna 172, N5147N, Show Low, AZ, February 23, 2018

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: February 23, 2018, 10:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place: Show Low, AZ
- Coordinates: 34.264446, -110.012779 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2644&lon=-110.0128&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: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 14, 2018
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 96789
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA141
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96789/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96789
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA141

## Probable cause

The flight instructor’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in gusting crosswind and tailwind 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 172M, 59 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072418), [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 · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 123 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072418), [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: [Cessna 172M, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,199 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-landing roll: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor reported that, during approach in a gusting crosswind, he took the flight controls from the student pilot about 500 to 700 ft above ground level. He added that, during the landing roll while decelerating, a wind gust lifted the back of the airplane "from the rear right to the front left, forcing the front wheel onto the ground and lifting the plane onto the left main" landing gear. He applied full left rudder and right aileron to correct, but when it did not improve the situation, he "relaxed the controls slightly back towards neutral." Subsequently, the airplane exited the runway to the right and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage and empennage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, at the time of the accident, the wind was from 210° at 26 knots, gusting to 32 knots. The airplane landed on runway 06.

## Factual narrative

The flight instructor reported that, during approach in a gusting crosswind, he took the flight controls from the student pilot at about 500-700 ft. above ground level. He added that, during the landing roll while decelerating, a wind gust lifted up the back of the airplane "from the rear right to the front left forcing the front wheel onto the ground and lifting the plane onto the left main" landing gear. He applied full left rudder and right aileron to correct, but when it did not improve the situation he "relaxed the controls slightly back towards neutral". Subsequently, the airplane exited the runway to the right and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, fuselage, and empennage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, at the time of the accident, the wind was from 210° at 26 knots, gusting 32 knots. The airplane landed on runway 06.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5147N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5147N), registered now, S/N 17261417 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (M)
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17261417
- Year built: 1973
- Airframe hours: 9442.6
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Canyon State Aero LLC
- Registered owner: Robert C. Mace Jr
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, March 28, 2017
- Departed: FFZ, MESA, AZ
- Destination: SOW, Show Low, AZ
- Airport: SOW, Show Low Rgnl, runway 06, 7,200 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 28; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 8, 2018; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 803 total, 533 in this make and model, 750 as pilot in command, 65 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; injuries: none; seat: left; restraint: 3-point

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 26 knots, gusting 32
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: KSOW

## 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 20180223003069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180223003069A), Feb 23, 2018: Cessna 172M, Show Low, AZ, Substantial damage. CFI was conducting flight training with airman. The purpose was a cross country flight to Show Low (ksow) and return to falcon field (kffz). Airman states that…

## Other investigations on N5147N (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 FTW98LA335](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA335), Jul 27, 1998: Cessna 172M (N5147N), Franktown, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: Flight at an altitude insufficient to clear terrain. Factors were the pilot's failure to reset or correct a precessing directional gyro, his becoming lost/disoriented, and dark night light conditions.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 11, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96789. 4.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461855&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photos (Courtesy of Airport Manager) (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461856&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20Airport%20Manager)-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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