# NTSB GAA19CA269: Cessna 172, N8159U, Tomball, TX, May 14, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 14, 2019, 16:19 local (21:19 UTC) - Place: Tomball, TX - Coordinates: 30.061666, -95.55278 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0617&lon=-95.5528&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 25, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99439 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA269 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99439/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99439 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA269 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing with a left crosswind, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent 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 172F, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072414), [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 172F, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072414), [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: [Cessna 172F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot reported that, during landing, he made flight control and power setting inputs to compensate for a left crosswind. He added that, shortly after touchdown, the nosewheel "violently shimmied," so he applied back pressure on the control yoke, and the airplane began "to roll and yaw to the right." The student applied left rudder control, and the nosewheel began to shimmy again. The airplane travelled toward the left edge of the runway, and the student decided to apply heavy braking. The airplane encountered soft soil and subsequently nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported that, during landing, he made flight control and power setting inputs to compensate for a left crosswind. Shortly after touch down, the nose wheel "violently shimmied" so he applied back pressure on the control yoke and the airplane began to roll and yaw to the right. The pilot reacted with left rudder control and the nose wheel began to shimmy again. The airplane travelled toward the left edge of the runway and the pilot made the decision to apply heavy braking. The airplane encountered soft soil and subsequently nosed over coming to a stop inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8159U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8159U-2021-12-04), registration cancelled 2021-12-04, S/N 17252059, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 (F) - Registry model: [Cessna 172F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (registry code 2072414) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17252059 - Year built: 1964 - Engines: Continental O-300 SER 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: MJH Aero Inc - Registered owner: MJH Aero Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Departed: DWH, Houston, TX - Destination: DWH, Houston, TX - Airport: DWH, David Wayne Hooks Memorial, runway 17R, 7,009 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 28; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KDWH ## 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 20190514004629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190514004629A), May 14, 2019: Cessna 172F, Tomball, TX, Substantial damage. Student pilot given authority to land runway 17R @ dwh airport. During landing roll out, as speed slowed, student pilot drifted towards the edge of the runway… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99439. 505 KB in all. - Pilot's Statement (item 1, .PDF, 375 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485180&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 130 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485181&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. --- 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.