# NTSB IAD01LA024: Cessna 172P, N54931, Concord, NH, January 7, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 7, 2001, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Concord, NH - Coordinates: 43.201667, -71.50222 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2017&lon=-71.5022&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 18, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 50905 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD01LA024 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50905/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD01LA024 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's improper decision to land downwind on the snow and ice covered runway with a tailwind, and his failure to perform a go-around. Factors in the accident were the tailwind and the snow and ice on the runway. ## Analysis The flight instructor and student pilot departed from runway 35, which was covered with patches of snow and ice, and climbed to 1,200 feet before leveling the airplane. The flight instructor then instructed the student pilot to perform a simulated engine failure approach and landing. The student pilot turned the airplane 270 degrees and prepared for a landing on runway 12. The airplane touched down about half-way down the 3,200 foot-long runway, and bounced back into the air. The flight instructor then took the controls and landed on the snow covered runway. The airplane touched down about 3/4 of the way down the runway, and as the flight instructor stepped on the brakes, the airplane skid into a snowbank and nosed over. Both pilots reported there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. The winds reported at the time of the accident were from 320 degrees at 8 knots. ## Factual narrative On January 7, 2001, at 1100 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172P, N54931, was substantially damaged during landing at the Concord Municipal Airport (CON), Concord, New Hampshire. The certified flight instructor (CFI), student pilot, and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the CFI's written statement: "Approx 11 a.m., CFI and student (with student's father as rear passenger) were practicing landing techniques. The student was a pre-solo student and instruction was focused on refining the landing technique to reach the point of solo. After departing and performing a normal, uneventful landing on runway 35, we taxied back to depart using Runway 35. After referring to the ASOS (winds reported as calm), we departed runway 35, and I instructed the student to continue straight ahead to 1,200 feet MSL, then continue a normal pattern procedure. As we passed through 1,200 feet MSL, I retarded the throttle and informed him the engine has failed. He immediately raised the nose to 65 knots, and chose a field immediately ahead. I agreed, but instructed him to make a left 270 degree turn while holding the proper airspeed." "Once the aircraft was established on final approach to runway 12, I informed the student to extend 30 degrees of flaps, and ensure the airspeed is between 61 and 64 knots. As we touched down, we were less than 1/2 of the way down the runway. The student bounced the aircraft on touchdown, and I informed him I had the controls and follow my motions. I settled the aircraft on the snow covered runway, and noticed the closed runway ahead that crosses 1/2 way down the runway...As we passed the intersection, the aircraft began skidding sideways down the runway. The nose oriented approximately 15 degrees to the right of centerline, continuing straight down the runway. At this point, it appeared that the aircraft was not decelerating at all, and a go-around was considered. As I began to initiate the go-around, I noticed the 4-foot high snowbanks on each side and end of the runway, and immediately re-applied the brakes and ensured the throttle was still retarded to idle, and used as much braking capability as possible." "...We impacted the snow at approximately 15 knots, at a slight nose-right angle. This apparently caused the nosewheel to shear off, and planted the nose of the aircraft into the snowbank. This caused the aircraft to flip over nose-first." In a telephone conversation with the student pilot, he stated that he performed a preflight inspection on the airplane, and departed from runway 35. He then remained in the traffic pattern, performed a landing, and another subsequent takeoff. During the second takeoff, he was instructed to climb to 1,200 feet before beginning a turn to the crosswind leg. As he reduced the power to level off, the CFI instructed him to perform a simulated engine failure approach and landing. The student pilot then made a left turn to land on runway 12. About halfway down the runway, the airplane touched down, and bounced back into the air. The airplane touched down again about 3/4 down the runway, the CFI "stepped on the brakes," and the airplane skid into a snowbank and flipped upside down. The student pilot reported that he and the CFI checked the weather before the lesson; however, they did not monitor ASOS during the flight. He stated the winds seemed to "pick up" to about 8 knots, and they seemed to have a tailwind prior to landing. Both pilots reported there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. According to an employee of the fixed base operator at CON, patchy, thin, snow and ice covered 50% of the 3,200 foot-wide runway at the time of the accident. The braking action was reported as "fair" for most of the day. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the vertical stabilizer was twisted and the nose gear was torn off. Damage was observed to the propeller, firewall, and both wings. No mechanical malfunctions were observed with the airplane. The winds reported at CON at 1051 were from 320 degrees at 8 knots. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - icy (contributing factor) - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - go-around - not performed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - terrain condition - snowbank ## Aircraft - Registration: [N54931](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N54931-2002-03-21), registration cancelled 2002-03-21, S/N 17275081, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17275081 - Airframe hours: 6814 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Anvab Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 26, 2000, 8 hours before - Departed: CON, Concord, NH - Destination: CON - Airport: CON, Concord Muni Airport, runway 12, 3,200 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 21, 2000; seat: right; flight hours: 423 total, 69 in this make and model, 314 as pilot in command, 58 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 16; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 27 total, 27 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: CON ## 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 20010107000159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010107000159A), Jan 7, 2001: Cessna 172P, Concord, NH, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was conducting flight instrucion with a student and was simulating an engine-out condition. The a/c landed approx. 1/4 down the runway on snow… 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.