GAA19CA267

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172 · Manvel, TX · May 15, 2019

Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal report
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.

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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.

Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedCessna 172G: 8 casesAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause
Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotCessna 172G: 16 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Wind: crosswindEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operationCessna 172G: 4 casesAll aircraft: 1,008 casesProbable cause
Object/animal/substanceEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operationCessna 172G: 1 caseAll aircraft: 224 casesProbable cause

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.