# NTSB GAA18CA175: Cessna 172, N987AV, Beaver Falls, PA, March 23, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 23, 2018, 09:15 local (13:15 UTC) - Place: Beaver Falls, PA - Coordinates: 40.772499, -80.386947 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7725&lon=-80.3869&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 14, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 96920 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA175 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96920/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96920 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA175 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## 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 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) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed 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) - [Object/animal/substance: snow/ice](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022060): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022060/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022060/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: 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) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that, during landing, the left wheel rose off the ground and that the airplane veered to the right. The right wing hit snow piles, and the nose landing gear sheared off. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount. 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 station located on the airport reported that, about 28 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 330° at 5 knots. The airplane landed on runway 28. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported that, during landing, the left wheel came up off the ground and the airplane veered to the right. The right wing hit snow piles and the nose landing gear sheared off. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount. The student pilot 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, about 28 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 330° at 5 knots. The airplane landed on runway 28. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N987AV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N987AV), registered now, S/N 17280585, built 1998 (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 I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17280585 - Year built: 1998 - Airframe hours: 6414.6 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Moore Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Moore Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 29, 2018 - Departed: BVI, BEAVER FALLS, PA - Destination: BVI, Beaver Falls, PA - Airport: BVI, Beaver County, runway 28, 4,501 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 18; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 34.7 total, 33 in this make and model, 5.8 as pilot in command, 14.1 in the last 90 days, 9.3 in the last 30 days, 1.7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: KBVI, 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 20180323009999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180323009999A), Mar 23, 2018: Cessna 172R, Beaver, PA, Substantial damage. Upon landing both wheels touched the surface, left wheel lifted off the surface and aircraft corrected to the right and struck a snow pile on the east side of… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 2, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96920. 431 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 302 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40462909&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 129 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40462910&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.