- Date
- May 15, 2019, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- Manvel, TX
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N5788RCessna 172
- Defining event
- Landing: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 3, 2020
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20190515004669A
- Case key
- 99436
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing with a crosswind, which resulted in impact with a ditch.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that, while landing on a wet, grass runway, the airplane suddenly veered right. The airplane exited the runway and impacted a water-filled drainage ditch. Subsequently, the airplane came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the aft fuselage, vertical stabilizer, and left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that, while landing on a wet, grass runway, the airplane suddenly veered to the right. The airplane exited the runway and impacted a water filled drainage ditch. Subsequently, the airplane come to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the aft fuselage, vertical stabilizer, 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 the wind was from 100° at 15 to 17 knots and gusting. An automated weather observation station located 5 miles northeast of the airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 090° at 12 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The airplane was landing runway 02. The airplane owner's manual states, "The maximum allowable crosswind velocity is dependent upon pilot capability rather than airplane limitations. With average pilot technique, direct crosswinds of 15 MPH can be handled with safety."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5788R
- Reported as
- Cessna 172 (G)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17253457
- Built
- 1965
- Airframe hours
- 4,481.8
- Engine
- Lycoming O-300D, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 15, 2019
- Departed
- 3T2 · Manvel, TX
- Destination
- 3T2 · Manvel, TX
- Airport
- 3T2 · Wolfe Air Park, runway 02, 2,910 × 80 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment
- ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 72
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- BasicMed
- Last flight review
- April 30, 2018
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 816 total · 80 in this make and model · 733 as pilot in command · 2 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 12 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.04 inHg
- Observed at
- KLVJ, 5 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 10, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.4 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.