# NTSB LAX03LA112: Cessna 172R, N4201Y, Thermal, CA, March 11, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 11, 2003, 11:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Thermal, CA - Coordinates: 33.616664, -116.150001 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6167&lon=-116.1500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION - NTSB case key (mKey): 56625 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX03LA112 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56625/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA112 ## Probable cause the student pilot's failure to use aileron controls to compensate for the known crosswind and failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout. ## 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 - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind - aileron - not used, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis During the landing rollout with a right quartering tailwind, the airplane veered off the runway, the nose wheel dug into the soft sand, and the airplane nosed over. After touch down the right wing was still airborne, with only the nose and left wheels on the pavement. The pilot used only the nose wheel steering and rudder to maintain directional control, but did not use the ailerons. The student pilot stated that there were no mechanical difficulties encountered with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On March 11, 2003, at 1100 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172R, N4201Y, veered off runway 35 and came to rest inverted at the Palm Desert Regional Airport (TRM), Thermal, California. The Flight School at Palm Springs operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane sustained substantial damaged. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area instructional flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight departed the Palm Springs International Airport (PSP), Palm Springs, California, at 1030. The flight was scheduled to terminate at PSP. According to a METAR report taken at 1054 at TRM, the wind was from 120-degrees at 6 knots. In the student pilot's written statement he stated that he landed left of centerline due to a crosswind. After touch down the right wing was still airborne. The pilot corrected with rudder and nose wheel, but did not use aileron. The airplane departed the runway. The nose landing gear dug into the soft sand, and the airplane came to rest inverted. The student pilot stated that there were no mechanical difficulties encountered with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4201Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4201Y-2005-05-05), registration cancelled 2005-05-05, S/N 17280746, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172R - Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172807410 - Airframe hours: 2536 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: The Flight School at Palm Springs - Registered owner: TRP Aviation, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 26, 2003, 11 hours before - Departed: PSP, PALM SPRINGS, CA - Destination: TRM - Airport: TRM, Desert Resorts Regional, runway 35, 8,500 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 23; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 26 total, 26 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 6 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg - Observed at: TRM ## 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 20030311002899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030311002899A), Mar 11, 2003: Cessna 172R, Thermal, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) The low time, student pilot was on a supervised solo flight from palm springs international airport to desert resorts regional, an uncontrolled airport.… 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.