# NTSB GAA19CA162: Cessna 172, N9404F, Scottsdale, AZ, March 2, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 2, 2019, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Scottsdale, AZ - Coordinates: 33.626388, -111.90583 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6264&lon=-111.9058&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99048 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA162 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99048/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99048 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA162 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain the runway heading during a go-around with a crosswind, which resulted in the left main landing gear impacting a runway sign. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: heading/course](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 82 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047/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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: 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 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) - [Landing: 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) ## Analysis The solo student pilot reported that, during the landing roll of a touch-and-go landing, the airplane began to veer off the runway, so he added power for a go-around. During the go-around, he saw that the left main landing (MLG) gear strut was bent and that the tire was "missing." He told the tower controller that he must have hit something and was instructed to fly by the tower. After the flyby, the tower controller confirmed that the left MLG was damaged and cleared the student to land. During the landing roll, the airplane skidded off the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer and left elevator. The student 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 station reported that, about 7 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 320° at 8 knots. The student was landing the airplane on runway 21. Examination of security videos revealed that, during the go-around, the airplane drifted left and that the left MLG struck a runway sign. ## Factual narrative The solo student pilot reported that, during the landing roll of a touch and go landing, the airplane began to veer off the runway, so he added power for a go around. He called the tower controller to inform them of the go around and he observed the left landing gear strut was bent and the tire was "missing." He told the controller that he must have hit something and was instructed to fly by the tower. After the flyby, the tower controller confirmed damage to the left landing gear and cleared him to land. The student landed and, during the landing roll, the airplane skidded off the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer and left elevator. 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 7 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 320° at 8 knots. The student pilot was landing the airplane on runway 21. Examination of security videos revealed that, during the first landing and go around, the airplane drifted to the left and the left main landing gear struck a runway sign. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9404F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9404F), registered now, S/N 17280229, built 1997 (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: 17280229 - Year built: 1997 - Airframe hours: 9451 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Southwest Flight Center - Registered owner: Longford Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 11, 2019 - Departed: SDL, Scottsdale, AZ - Destination: SDL, Scottsdale, AZ - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: SDL, Scottsdale, runway 21, 8,249 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 36; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 9.1 total, 9.1 in this make and model, 0.2 as pilot in command, 9.1 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KSDL ## 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 20190302000819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190302000819A), Mar 2, 2019: Cessna 172R, Scottsdale, AZ, Substantial damage. During approach to landing on rwy 3, he student pilot on his first solo landing departed the left side of the runway hitting a runway sign as he was going… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 17, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99048. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 739 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471964&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Student Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 123 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471965&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Student Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471966&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Student%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Airport Video Footage (item 4, .PDF, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471967&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Video%20Footage-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 5, .PDF, 2 photos, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471968&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.