# NTSB GAA19CA172: Cessna 172, N334SL, Oskaloosa, IA, March 11, 2019

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 11, 2019, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Oskaloosa, IA
- Coordinates: 41.226112, -92.493888
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2261&lon=-92.4939&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: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 6, 2019
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 99142
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA172
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99142/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99142
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA172

## Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing with a left quartering tailwind, which resulted in a runway excursion, impact with a snowbank, and a nose-over.

## 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 172H, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072424), [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 172H, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072424), [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 172H, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: snow/ice](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022060): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022060/cases.md?model=2072424), [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 172H, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The solo student pilot reported that, during the landing roll, while he was reaching for the flap levers, the airplane veered left, exited the runway, struck a snowbank, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. 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 15 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 170° at 11 knots. The student landed the airplane on runway 31.

## Factual narrative

The solo student pilot reported that during the landing roll, while reaching for the flap levers, the airplane veered left, exited the runway to the left, struck a snowbank, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. The student 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 15 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 170° at 11 knots. The airplane landed on runway 31.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N334SL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N334SL-2020-02-07), registration cancelled 2020-02-07, S/N 17256385, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172 (H)
- Registry model: [Cessna 172H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172h) (registry code 2072424) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17256385
- Year built: 1967
- Engines: Continental O-300D 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Midwest Aviation Service Inc
- Registered owner: Midwest Aviation Service Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 3, 2018, 3,565 hours before
- Departed: OOA, Oskaloosa, IA
- Destination: OOA, Oskaloosa, IA
- Airport: OOA, Oskaloosa Muni, runway 31, 4,012 × 75 ft, concrete
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 39; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 22 total, 22 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observed at: KOOA

## 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 20190311001149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190311001149A), Mar 11, 2019: Cessna 172H, Oskaloosa, IA, Destroyed. Oskaloosa, IA (ooa): N334SL, c 172, student pilot conducting "touch & go's", acft main gear contacted a Snow bank on landing, nosed over and flipped. No ATC…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 27, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99142. 981 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 826 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473849&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 154 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473850&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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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