# NTSB LAX89LA080: Cessna 172, N3857Q, Alturas, CA, January 7, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 7, 1989, 11:55 local (19:55 UTC)
- Place: Alturas, CA
- Coordinates: 41.486037, -120.56311 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4860&lon=-120.5631&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 12, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26320
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89LA080
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26320/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89LA080

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE ON THE SNOW-COVERED RUNWAY, RESULTING IN A NOSE-OVER WHEN THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED OFF THE RUNWAY INTO DEEPER SNOW.

## 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
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE DOING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS, ON A RUNWAY LIGHTLY COVERED WITH SNOW, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED OFF THE RUNWAY TO THE LEFT INTO ABOUT ONE FOOT OF SNOW AND NOSED OVER. THERE WERE NO REPORTED MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES OF THE AIRPLANE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3857Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3857Q-1991-05-31), registration cancelled 1991-05-31, S/N 17259957 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172l) (registry code 2072432) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17259957
- Airframe hours: 2914
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2G 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Clough, Richard
- Registered owner: Richard D Clough
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 8, 1988, 65 hours before
- Airport: UTC, Alturas, runway 31, 4,300 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 935 total, 836 in this make and model, 839 as pilot in command, 113 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19890107000289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890107000289A), Jan 7, 1989: Cessna 172L, Alturas, CA, Destroyed. Student lost control on flare for landing. Landed in crab. Veered off runway into deep snow and nosed over.

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.

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