# NTSB GAA19CA194: Cessna 172, N54222, Clemson, SC, April 2, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 2, 2019, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Clemson, SC - Coordinates: 34.671943, -82.883613 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6719&lon=-82.8836&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99216 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA194 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99216/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99216 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA194 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll and his exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack when it inadvertently became airborne, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [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: [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. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot reported that, during landing, as the nosewheel touched down on the runway, he felt a "strong vibration," and the airplane veered left. He tried to correct by pulling back on the yoke, but the airplane became airborne and continued veering left, and the left wing impacted a ramp left of the runway. Examination of video surveillance revealed that, shortly after landing, the airplane veered left. The airplane then became airborne, aerodynamically stalled, and the left wing dropped and impacted the ramp. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The manager reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The solo student pilot reported that, during landing, as the nosewheel touched the runway, he felt a "strong vibration" and the airplane veered left. He tried to correct by pulling back on the yoke, but the airplane became airborne and continued left. The airplane impacted an adjacent ramp area to the left of the runway. Examination of video surveillance revealed that the airplane landed and shortly after veered to the left. The airplane then became airborne, aerodynamically stalled, the left wing dropped and impacted the ramp. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The manager 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 36 minutes before the accident, the wind was variable at 3 knots. The same automated station reported that, about 24 minutes after the accident, the wind was variable at 5 knots. The pilot was landing the airplane on runway 25. ## Aircraft - Registration: N54222 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 (P) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17274926 - Year built: 1981 - Airframe hours: 3138 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Velocity Aviation Llc - Registered owner: Velocity Aviation Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 27, 2019 - Departed: LZU, Lawrenceville, GA - Destination: CEU, Clemson, SC - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: CEU, Oconee County Rgnl, runway 25, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 32; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 59.5 total, 59.5 in this make and model, 7.5 as pilot in command, 30.1 in the last 90 days, 13.6 in the last 30 days, 3.9 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft broken - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KCEU ## 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 20190402002359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190402002359A), Apr 2, 2019: Cessna 172P, Clemson, SC, Substantial damage. On touch down the student pilot released backpressure to allow nose wheel to make contact with runway. Once contact was made, the aircraft started a vibration… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 29, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99216. 4.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472230&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 414 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472231&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-Master.PDF - Accident Video (item 3, .PDF, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472237&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Video-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.