# NTSB LAX05LA118: Cessna 172S, N562AB, Thermal, CA, March 22, 2005

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 22, 2005, 09:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place: Thermal, CA
- Coordinates: 33.626667, -118.159721
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6267&lon=-118.1597&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 31, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 61184
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX05LA118
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61184/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05LA118

## Probable cause

the student pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind conditions and failure to maintain directional control.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - weather condition - crosswind
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - not corrected, pilot in command
- On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run
  - object - other
- Nose over, takeoff - roll/run

## Analysis

The airplane nosed over after veering off the runway and colliding with a cement block during a touch-and-go.  The student completed five successful touch-and-goes.  On the sixth landing, a quartering wind blew the airplane to the left of the runway.  The student tried to takeoff, but the airplane veered off the runway.  The nose wheel hit a cement block, and the airplane nosed over.  No preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures were identified.

## Factual narrative

On March 22, 2005, about 0915 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172S, N562AB, nosed over after veering off the runway and colliding with a cement block at Thermal, California.  Palm Springs Flying Club was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The cross-country instructional flight departed Palm Springs, California, about 0800.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

The operator reported that the student pilot flew solo to Thermal to practice touch-and-go takeoffs and landings.  The student completed five successful touch-and-goes.  On the sixth landing, a quartering wind blew the airplane to the left of the runway.  The student tried to takeoff, but the airplane veered off the runway.  The nose wheel hit a cement block, and the airplane nosed over.  The student exited through the pilot's side door.

The student moved out of the area, and did not submit a statement.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N562AB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N562AB), registered now, S/N 172S9545 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172S
- Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172S9545
- Airframe hours: 1085.4
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: The Flight School of Palm Springs
- Registered owner: Greg Grubb
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 1, 2005, 52.4 hours before
- Departed: PSP, Palm Springs, CA
- Destination: TRM, Thermal, CA
- Airport: TRM, Thermal, runway TRM, 8,500 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 52; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3; seat: left; flight hours: 32 total, 32 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 29.90 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 20050322010939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050322010939A), Mar 22, 2005: Cessna 172S, Thermal, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Student pilot practicing touch-and-go landings, lost control of aircraft when encountering gusty winds.

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.