# NTSB IAD02LA050: Cessna 172, N172EF, Norwood, MA, May 10, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 10, 2002, 12:45 local (16:45 UTC) - Place: Norwood, MA - Coordinates: 42.230113, -71.529571 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2301&lon=-71.5296&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 8, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 54680 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD02LA050 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54680/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54680 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD02LA050 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during an aborted landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, landing - aborted - object - tree(s) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis During a supervised solo flight, the student pilot was in the traffic pattern preparing for his fourth landing when the control tower advised of variable winds, which included a crosswind. The student pilot described the wind conditions as "gusty". When the airplane was about to touchdown on runway 28, it ballooned, then bounced, and drifted to the right. Then, the nose pitched up abruptly, and the right wing dropped. The airplane then veered to the right, toward a tree line. The student pilot applied full power, leveled the wings, and the airplane began to climb. However, there was not enough altitude to clear the tree tops. Weather at the airport included winds from 300 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 17 knots. ## Factual narrative On May 10, 2002, at 1245 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N172EF, was substantially damaged when it collided with trees during an aborted landing at Norwood Municipal Airport (OWD), Norwood, Massachusetts. The student pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local solo instructional flight, conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the student pilot, he had completed three landings on runway 28 as part of a supervised solo flight. While on downwind for the fourth landing, the control tower advised airport traffic of variable winds, which included a crosswind component. The student pilot described the variable wind conditions as "gusty". The student pilot also stated that when the airplane's main landing gear touched down on the runway, the airplane ballooned, then bounced, and drifted to the right. When he applied full power to go around, the "right wing dropped. Leveled wings and continued climbing. Removed 10 degrees of flaps and settled into tops of trees 100 feet right of runway." The student pilot's flight instructor witnessed the accident. According to the instructor, the airplane ballooned in the flare, sank, then abruptly pitched nose-up. Then, the right wing dropped and the airplane veered to the right of the runway, toward the tree line. The airplane's wings then leveled and the airplane started to climb, but there was not enough altitude to clear the tree tops. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector performed an on-scene examination of the airplane. According to the inspector, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall, wings, and tail control surfaces. The pilot reported a total of 54 flight hours, of which, 14 hours were in make and model. He also reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies. Weather reported at Norwood Airport, at 1200, included winds from 300 degrees at 10 knots gusting to 17 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, and clear skies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N172EF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N172EF), registered now, S/N 17280876, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17280876 - Airframe hours: 745.1 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Rh Hammer Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 21, 2002, 65.1 hours before - Departed: OWD, NORWOOD, MA - Airport: OWD, Norwood Municipal, runway 28, 4,001 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 46; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 54 total, 14 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 10 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: OWD ## 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 20020510009489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020510009489A), May 10, 2002: Cessna 172R, Norwood, MA, No damage. (-23) N172EF, C172, a student pilot on closed pattern supervised solo was cleared to land runway 28 at Norwood airport. Pilot executed a go-around. At… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 23, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54680. 448 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 400 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437628&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 26 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40173765&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (item 3, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437629&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Redacted.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.