# NTSB GAA19CA544: Cessna 172F, N5229F, Hemet, CA, September 12, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 12, 2019, 15:20 local (22:20 UTC) - Place: Hemet, CA - Coordinates: 33.727779, -117.030555 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7278&lon=-117.0306&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 17, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - NTSB case key (mKey): 100258 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA544 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100258/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100258 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA544 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's improper decision to perform a precautionary landing on unsuitable terrain, which resulted in a noseover. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); 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) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that, during landing, he told the student pilot to initiate a go-around. During the climb, the instructor saw dust devils at the end of the runway, so he instructed the student to also initiate a slight left turn. The instructor then noticed power lines past the dust devils, so he took the controls from the student and continued a shallow, 200 ft-per-minute climbing left turn to the south. While turning the airplane, the instructor saw other power lines to the south, so he decided to initiate a precautionary soft-field landing to a plowed field adjacent to the runway. During landing, the nose landing gear touched down, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing lift strut and vertical stabilizer. The instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor reported that, during landing, he directed the student pilot to initiate a go-around. During the climb, the instructor saw dust devils at the end of the runway, so he instructed the student to also initiate a slight left turn. The instructor then noticed power lines past the dust devils, so he decided to take the controls from the student and continued a shallow, 200 ft-per-minute climbing left turn to the south. While in the turn, the instructor saw other high-tension power lines to the south, so he decided to initiate a precautionary soft field landing to a plowed field adjacent to the runway. During landing, the nose landing gear touched down and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing lift strut and vertical stabilizer. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation station, about 20 minutes before the accident, about 15 nautical miles north from the accident site, reported the wind was 310° at 6 knots, temperature of 97ºF, altimeter setting of 29.93. The calculated density altitude was about 4,237 ft. According to the Federal Aviation Administration density altitude Koch Chart, the airplane would have likely experienced about a 37% decrease to the normal climb rate, and about a 55% increase to the normal takeoff distance. The pilot reported that the wind was 140º at 6 knots. The airplane departed from runway 23. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5229F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5229F), registered now, S/N 17253280, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172F (A) - 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: 17253280 - Year built: 1965 - Airframe hours: 10542 - Engines: Continental O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Public use - Operator: United States Air Force Owner - Registered owner: United States Air Force Owner - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 31, 2019 - Departed: RIV, Riverside, CA - Destination: HMT, Hemet, CA - Flight plan: Military VFR - Airport: HMT, Hemet-Ryan, runway 23, 4,315 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 63; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 6, 2018; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 11,497 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 8,370 as pilot in command, 99 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 37; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 42 total, 42 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: KRIV, 15 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 20190912013089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190912013089A), Sep 12, 2019: Cessna 172F, Hemet, CA, Substantial damage. 09/12/2019: A Cessna 172 aircraft, N52295 initiated an emergency landing in a field adjacent to the Hemet airport (khmt). Upon landing in a field south west of… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 20, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100258. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479305&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479306&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-Master.PDF - FAA Density Koch Chart (item 3, .PDF, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479307&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Density%20Koch%20Chart-Master.PDF - 1965 Cessna 172 Performance Chart (item 4, .PDF, 79 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479308&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=1965%20Cessna%20172%20Performance%20Chart-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.