# NTSB LAX95LA124: Cessna 172, N7369F, Prescott, AZ, March 3, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 3, 1995, 08:40 local (15:40 UTC)
- Place: Prescott, AZ
- Coordinates: 34.620792, -112.420982 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6208&lon=-112.4210&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 24, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 29047
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA124
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29047/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA124

## Probable cause

failure of the pilot to maintain directional control.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, landing - aborted
  - aborted landing - attempted, pilot in command
  - directional control - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - aborted
  - terrain condition - ditch

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT ELECTED TO INITIATE A GO-AROUND WHEN THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN DRIFTING TO THE RIGHT DURING LANDING. DURING THE ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND, THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO GO TO THE LEFT AND THE PILOT STATED THE AIRCRAFT BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE.  THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED OFF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A DITCH.  THE WINDS WERE REPORTED AS CALM.  THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS.

## Factual narrative

On March 3, 1995, at 0840 hours mountain standard time, the pilot of a Cessna 172, N7369F, veered off runway 21R and nosed over at Prescott, Arizona, during a local instructional flight.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time with the winds calm.  The aircraft sustained substantial damage and the pilot was not injured.

The student pilot stated that on his approach the aircraft drifted to the right of the runway centerline.  He made corrections, but the aircraft weather vaned to the left.  He initiated a balked landing procedure, but the aircraft continued to turn to the left and was uncontrollable.  The aircraft departed off the side of the runway and collided with a ditch.  The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the aircraft.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7369F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7369F-1998-06-26), registration cancelled 1998-06-26, S/N 17273258 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17273258
- Airframe hours: 3438
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: North-Aire, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, February 13, 1995, 34 hours before
- Departed: PRC
- Airport: PRC, Ernest A Love, runway 21R, 4,842 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 36 total, 36 in this make and model, 36 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 45 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft broken

## 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 19950303003089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950303003089A), Mar 3, 1995: Cessna 172N, Prescott, AZ, Substantial damage. Lost directional control landing. Veered off runway 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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