# NTSB LAX96LA182: Cessna 402C, N172VB, St Johns, AZ, April 11, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 11, 1996, 16:05 local (23:05 UTC) - Place: St Johns, AZ - Coordinates: 34.560043, -109.329193 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5600&lon=-109.3292&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 20, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29431 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA182 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29431/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA182 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions, his use of an overly excessive approach speed, and his misjudged distance/altitude relationship to the runway. The wind was a factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed(vref) - excessive, pilot in command (cause) - proper touchdown point - exceeded, pilot in command (cause) - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - terrain condition - drop-off/descending embankment - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll - terrain condition - rough/uneven - landing gear,nose gear assembly - overload ## Analysis The pilot decided to increase his final approach speed by 15 knots to compensate for the gust spread and crosswind. He descended on final approach using the VASI system as a glide path reference. After touchdown the airplane bounced and floated, and touched down again in the middle 1/3 of the 5,323-foot runway. The pilot did not notice how much runway was remaining. After clearing a slight rise, he saw the departure end of the runway and realized there was insufficient runway remaining to stop or execute a go-around. The airplane ran off the end of the runway. The AWOS recorded winds from 260 degrees at 33 knots gusting to 45 knots. ## Factual narrative On April 11, 1996, at 1605 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 402C, N172VB, overran runway 32 while landing at the St. Johns Industrial Airpark, St. Johns, Arizona, and collided with the terrain. The airplane was substantially damaged and the airline transport rated pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a business flight by Bank One Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from the Deer Valley Airport in Phoenix about 1500. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The airplane was dispatched on a company visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan. The pilot indicated the St. Johns UNICOM operator reported the surface winds were from 260 to 280 degrees with gusty winds at 30 to 40 knots. He decided to increase his final approach speed by 15 knots to compensate for the gust spread and crosswind. He descended on final approach using the VASI system as a glide path reference. After touchdown the airplane bounced and floated, and touched down again in the middle 1/3 of the runway. The pilot was concentrating on maintaining runway alignment on the centerline and did not notice how much runway was remaining. After clearing a slight rise, he saw the departure end of the runway and realized there was insufficient runway remaining to stop or execute a go-around. The departure end of runway 32 drops off about 9.5 feet. When the airplane reached the departure end it became airborne and cleared the airport perimeter fence, which is lower than the runway, and landed in a uneven field about 80 feet from the runway end. The airplane traveled another 160 feet, at which time the nose gear collapsed. The airplane continued to move on the nose and main landing gear for another 152 feet before coming to rest. The St. Johns AWOS recorded winds 50 minutes after the accident were from 260 degrees at 33 knots gusting to 45 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: N172VB (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna 402C - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 402C1014 - Airframe hours: 9251 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-VB 325 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Bank One Arizona - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, April 5, 1996, 13 hours before - Departed: DVT, PHOENIX, AZ - Destination: SJN - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: SJN, St Johns Industrial, runway 32, 5,323 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 8,700 total, 371 in this make and model, 8,025 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 33 knots, gusting 45 - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SJN, 1 nm away ## 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 19960411014429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960411014429A), Apr 11, 1996: Cessna 402C, St Johns, AZ, Substantial damage. Bounced and floated on high speed crosswind landing. Ballooned off end runway. Collapsed nose gear in uneven field. 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.