# NTSB GAA19CA362: Cessna 172, N84402, Tampa, FL, June 14, 2019

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 14, 2019, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Tampa, FL
- Coordinates: 28.221389, -82.374443 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.2214&lon=-82.3744&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 3, 2020
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 99678
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA362
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99678/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99678
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA362

## Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, 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 172K, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072430), [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 172K, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The solo student pilot reported that, after touchdown, wind pushed the airplane to the left, and it then departed the runway onto soft, wet grass. He attempted to maneuver back onto the runway, but the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing.

## Factual narrative

The student pilot reported that after touch down, the wind pushed the airplane to the left which travelled off the runway onto the soft wet grass. He attempted to maneuver back onto the runway but the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N84402](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N84402-2021-10-30), registration cancelled 2021-10-30, S/N 17258461, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172 (K)
- Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17258461
- Year built: 1969
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 SERIES reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Departed: X39, Tampa, FL
- Destination: X39, Tampa, FL
- Airport: X39, Tampa North Aero Park, runway 14, 3,541 × 50 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 25; injuries: none; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; flight hours: 40 total, 40 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observed at: KVDF, 13 nm away

## 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 20190614006939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190614006939A), Jun 14, 2019: Cessna 172K, Lutz, FL, Substantial damage. Student pilot performing unsupervised solo was doing full stop landings. Pilot performed 3 full stop landings and while on the fourth attempt the aircraft was…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 20, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99678. 306 KB in all.

- Pilot's Statement (item 1, .PDF, 186 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483881&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483882&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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