# NTSB LAX91LA083: Cessna 172P, N54863, Sedona, AZ, January 27, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 27, 1991, 10:52 local (17:52 UTC)
- Place: Sedona, AZ
- Coordinates: 34.940925, -111.940086 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9409&lon=-111.9401&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27101
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX91LA083
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27101/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA083

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch

## Analysis

THE NEWLY CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT SAID THAT THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED TWICE ON TOUCHDOWN AND BEGAN TO VEER TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO INITIATE A GO AROUND, HOWEVER, TOTAL DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST AND THE AIRCRAFT RAN OFF THE RUNWAY AND HIT A DITCH NEXT TO THE TAXIWAY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N54863](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N54863-1994-08-26), registration cancelled 1994-08-26, S/N 17275071 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17275071
- Engines: LYCOMING 0320D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Corporate Jets, Inc
- Departed: SDL, SCOTTSDALE, AZ
- Airport: SEZ, Sedona, runway 3, 5,131 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 125 total, 125 in this make and model, 67 as pilot in command, 105 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19910127001049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910127001049A), Jan 27, 1991: Cessna 172P, Sedona, AZ, Substantial damage. Bounced and lost control on landing. Ran off runway into a ditch.

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.
