# NTSB LAX95LA316: Cessna 172A, N7641T, Weed, CA, August 30, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 30, 1995, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Weed, CA - Coordinates: 41.509414, -122.360397 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5094&lon=-122.3604&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 27, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29204 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA316 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29204/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA316 ## Probable cause the flight instructor's failure 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 - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - ground loop/swerve - not corrected, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - drop-off/descending embankment - terrain condition - rock(s)/boulder(s) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis THE AIRCRAFT OWNER AND A CFI WERE PERFORMING A BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR SAID THAT AFTER THE BFR WAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED BY THE OWNER HE ASKED IF HE COULD DO ONE TAKEOFF AND LANDING, TO WHICH THE OWNER AGREED. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT THE TAKEOFF AND PATTERN WERE NORMAL; HOWEVER, JUST AFTER TOUCHDOWN HE BEGAN TO HAVE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL PROBLEMS AND COULDN'T GET THE RIGHT RUDDER PEDAL TO MOVE BEYOND THE NEUTRAL POSITION. THE INSTRUCTOR SAID HE COULD NOT MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED OFF THE RUNWAY EDGE, RAN DOWN AN EMBANKMENT, AND NOSED OVER AFTER ENCOUNTERING LARGE BOULDERS. AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT NO DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND IN AN EXAMINATION OF THE CONTROL SYSTEM. ## Factual narrative On August 30, 1995, at 1630 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172A, N7641T, nosed over following a loss of control during landing at the Weed, California, airport. The aircraft was owned and operated by the left seat pilot and was engaged in traffic pattern operations during a biennial flight review. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot/flight instructor and the private pilot aircraft owner were not injured. The flight originated at Dunsmier, California, on the day of the accident about 1500 and flew to Weed, where traffic pattern operations were to be conducted. In a telephone interview, the flight instructor reported that the biennial flight review was successfully completed by the aircraft owner. The flight instructor then asked the owner if he could do one takeoff and landing, to which the owner agreed. The flight instructor stated that the takeoff and pattern were normal; however, just after touchdown he began to have directional control problems and couldn't get the right rudder pedal to move beyond the neutral position. The instructor said he could not maintain directional control and the aircraft drifted off the runway edge, ran down an embankment, and nosed over after encountering large boulders. An FAA airworthiness inspector from the Sacramento Flight Standards District Office reported that no discrepancies were found in an examination of the control system. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7641T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7641T-1997-04-25), registration cancelled 1997-04-25, S/N 47241 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172A - Registry model: [Cessna 172A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172a) (registry code 2072404) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 47241 - Airframe hours: 2895 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-C 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Arthur N. Norcliffe - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 16, 1994, 29 hours before - Departed: 046 - Airport: O46, Weed Airport, runway 14, 5,000 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 11,734 total, 292 in this make and model, 9,000 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 12 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °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 19950830027089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950830027089A), Aug 30, 1995: Cessna 172A, Weed, CA, Substantial damage. Lost directional control landing on biennial flight review. Exited runway. Over embankment. Froze on rudder. 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.