# NTSB IAD96LA127: Cessna 172, N12141, Midland, OH, August 3, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 3, 1996, 09:45 local (13:45 UTC) - Place: Midland, OH - Coordinates: 39.290615, -83.890563 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2906&lon=-83.8906&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 25, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28093 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD96LA127 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28093/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD96LA127 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain adequate alignment with the runway and to maintain adequate terrain clearance during landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - high vegetation - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - proper alignment - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - maneuver to avoid obstructions - performed, pilot in command ## Analysis The pilot reported that during landing on a private airstrip the aircraft veered left despite corrective action. He saw a ditch in the path of the aircraft so he pulled on the control wheel and the aircraft traveled over the ditch and collided with an embankment. Examination of the accident site revealed the grass/dirt runway was 39.5 feet wide and cornfields were on both side of the 3,000-foot long runway with cornstalks alongside the runway. Further inspection revealed the aircraft landed left of the unmarked centerline of the runway. According to the aircraft owner's manual, the wingspan is about 36 feet wide. ## Factual narrative On August 4, 1996, at 0945 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N12141, collided with terrain after departing the runway during the landing roll at a private strip in Midland, Ohio. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, reported no injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, no flight plan was filed. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91. The flight originated from a private landing strip in Martinsville, Ohio, at approximately 0930 EDT. The pilot reported to the Ohio State Police that during the landing roll the "...left wheel locked up and started pulling me to the left. I put on the right brake to try to correct it ... but I hit an embankment." There are corn fields on both sides of the landing surface. An FAA safety inspector reported that "...it was determined that what had actually happened was that upon the landing touchdown, which was slightly off to the left of centerline, the PIC had dragged the left wing through the tops of the corn ... The runway was only 39 1/2 feet wide to begin with and according to a 1975 Cessna Owners manual, the wingspan on the [Cessna 172] is 36 feet. The PIC didn't have to be off the centerline by very much for the high corn and narrow runway to be an important factor in the loss of directional control. Because of the increasing drag factor during his deceleration and loss of control effectiveness at the same time, the PIC was unable to compensate for his directional control problem." The airplane subsequently departed the left side of the landing surface and struck an embankment. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N12141](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N12141), registered now, S/N 17261837 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17261837 - Airframe hours: 2786 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William A. Hale - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 16, 1995, 36 hours before - Departed: MARTINSVILLE, OH ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 440 total, 315 in this make and model, 368 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: DAY, 40 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 19960803020669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960803020669A), Aug 3, 1996: Cessna 172M, Georgetown, OH, Substantial damage. Dragged left wing through tops of corn off edge runway. Exited narrow runway into an embankment. (-23) PIC landed aircraft on Private airstrip bordered by corn… 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.