# NTSB GAA18CA323: Cessna 172, N1305B, Fuquay Varina, NC, June 2, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 2, 2018, 11:20 local (15:20 UTC) - Place: Fuquay Varina, NC - Coordinates: 35.618888, -78.699447 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6189&lon=-78.6994&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 5, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97398 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA323 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97398/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97398 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA323 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from overgrown brush during taxi, which resulted in entanglement with the brush and a subsequent impact with a tree. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-from runway: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Taxi-from runway: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 118 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that, after demonstrating a simulated emergency landing, he taxied the airplane off the runway and prepared to back taxi for departure. While taxiing, the instructor and student monitored the right-wing tip clearance to the overgrown brush on the right side of the runway, but the right wing became entangled, and the airplane veered right. The instructor added left rudder and brake, but the airplane impacted a ditch. Postaccident examination revealed that the right wing struck a tree and sustained substantial damage. The instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor reported that, after demonstrating a simulated emergency landing, he taxied the airplane off the runway and prepared to back taxi for departure. While taxiing, the instructor and student monitored the right-wing tip clearance to the overgrown brush on the right side of the runway, but the right-wing became entangled and the airplane veered to the right. The instructor added left rudder and brake, but the airplane impacted a ditch. Postaccident examination revealed that the right wing struck a tree and sustained substantial damage. The instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The instructor added in a postaccident interview that the airport did not have pavement markings, so he used a pavement crack down the middle of the taxiway as a reference. He added that the entangled brush near the location the wing struck a tree appeared to be more overgrown than other areas along the taxiway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1305B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1305B), registered now, S/N 172S10654, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (S) - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S10654 - Year built: 2007 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: HRJ, ERWIN, NC - Destination: 5W5, Fuquay Varina, NC - Airport: 5W5, Triple W, runway 34, 3,004 × 40 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 22; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left - Flight instructor; age 37; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 27, 2017; seat: right; flight hours: 709 total, 176 in this make and model, 615 as pilot in command, 113 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Observed at: KHRJ, 14 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 20180602006949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180602006949A), Jun 2, 2018: Cessna 172S, Fuquay Varina, NC, Substantial damage. Pilot taxied into a tree on taxiway after landing, striking the right wing leading edge and pivoting the aircraft into a ditch. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 9, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97398. 4.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465768&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Flight Instructor (item 2, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465769&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Flight%20Instructor-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 197 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465770&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-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.