# NTSB GAA19CA123: Cessna 172, N8487X, Center, TX, December 20, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 20, 2018, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Center, TX - Coordinates: 31.835277, -94.157218 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8353&lon=-94.1572&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98932 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA123 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98932/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98932 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA123 ## Probable cause The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during landing in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## 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 172C, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072408), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172C, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=2072408), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 172C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072408), [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 172C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072408), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 172C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=2072408), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 172C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072408), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172C, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072408), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 172C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072408), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172C, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072408), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the landing flare, a wind gust "lifted the wing up 90 degrees." She then leveled the wings and added full power. When the wings were leveled, the airplane was above a drainage ditch between the runway and parallel taxiway. She realized that the airplane would not gain enough airspeed to "make the [taxiway]," so she intentionally aerodynamically stalled the airplane to "prevent flipping" it. The airplane descended and impacted the drainage ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right and left wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation system reported that the wind was from 310° at 14 knots, gusting to 23 knots. A weather station located about 2 miles southwest of the airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 311° at 2.7 mph (about 2 knots), gusting to 12.1 mph (about 11 knots). The pilot was landing the airplane on runway 35. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, during the landing flare, a wind gust "lifted the up wing 90 degrees." She leveled the wings and added full power. When wings were leveled the airplane was over a drainage ditch between the runway and parallel taxiway. She realized that the airplane would not gain enough airspeed to "make the [taxiway]", so she intentionally aerodynamically stalled the airplane to "prevent flipping the plane." The airplane impacted in the drainage ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right and left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that automated weather observation system (AWOS) reported the wind was 310° at 14 knots, gusting to 23 knots. A weather station, located about 2 miles to the southwest of the accident airport, about the time of the accident reported the wind was from 311° at 2.7 mph, gusting to 12.1 mph. The pilot was landing the airplane on runway 35. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8487X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8487X-2019-06-12), registration cancelled 2019-06-12, S/N 17248987, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 (C) - Registry model: [Cessna 172C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172c) (registry code 2072408) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17248987 - Year built: 1962 - Airframe hours: 45.33 - Engines: Continental O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2018 - Departed: MPR, Mc Pherson, KS - Destination: F17, Center, TX - Airport: F17, Center Muni, runway 35, 5,501 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 16, 2018; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 163.5 total, 163.5 in this make and model, 108.4 as pilot in command, 13.5 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 22 knots, gusting 30 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: KOCH, 32 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 20181220022079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181220022079A), Dec 20, 2018: Cessna 172C, Center, TX, Substantial damage. Caught a gust of wind on landing runway 35. Acft cartwheeled and came to rest on left side of runway. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 14, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98932. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471050&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Weather Excerpt (item 2, .PDF, 123 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471051&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Excerpt-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 123 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471052&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.