# NTSB MIA97LA129: Cessna 172N, N4874D, Lawrenceville, GA, April 10, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 10, 1997, 09:18 local (13:18 UTC) - Place: Lawrenceville, GA - Location: 33.9781° N, 83.9624° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at GWINNETT COUNTY/BRISCOE FLD (LZU), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9781&lon=-83.9624&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 25, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38255 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA97LA129 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38255/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA129 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a crosswind landing. The winds were a factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - go-around - attempted, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr) - Nose over, go-around (vfr) ## Analysis The student pilot stated that the tower advised him on downwind that another pilot had encountered a wind shear on landing earlier that day. The student pilot completed a touch-and-go landing without incident. He remained in closed traffic for another touch-and-go landing. As he started his round out the airplane encountered gusty wind conditions. The airplane ballooned up and started to settle, when a second gust was encountered and the left wing was pitched downward. The airplane was blown off the left side of the runway while airborne. He attempted a go-around and was reaching for the flaps when he encountered a third gust. The airplane pitched down and the nosewheel collided with the ground. He lost directional control of the airplane, it veered further to the left, and nosed over inverted. ## Factual narrative On April 10, 1997, about 0918 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N4874D, registered to Galla Aviation, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, crashed on landing at the Gwinnett County-Briscoe Field Airport, Lawrenceville, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was not filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The student pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Lawrenceville about 4 to 5 minutes before the accident. The pilot stated he was on his third solo flight, and he had just returned from the local training area to conduct touch-and-go landings. The tower advised him while on downwind that another airplane had encountered windshear earlier in the morning. He completed the touch-and-go without incident and remained in left closed traffic for another touch-and-go landing on runway 07. As he started his round out the airplane encountered gusty wind conditions. The airplane ballooned up and started to settle, when a second gust was encountered and the left wing was pitched downward. The airplane was blown off the left side of the runway while airborne. The student pilot attempted a go-around and was reaching for the flaps when he encountered a third gust. The airplane pitched down and the nosewheel collided with the ground. He lost directional control of the airplane, it veered further to the left, and nosed over inverted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4874D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4874D-1999-04-13), registration cancelled 1999-04-13, S/N 17272382 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17272382 - Airframe hours: 4453 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Pks Inc. - Registered owner: Donald & Jennifer Galla - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 2, 1997, 65 hours before - Departed: LZU - Airport: LZU, Gwinett County, runway 7, 6,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 24 total, 24 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 8 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LZU ## 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 19970410005689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970410005689A), Apr 10, 1997: Cessna 172N, Lawrenceville, GA, Substantial damage. Third solo. Encountered gusty winds on approach. Tried go around. Hit by gust raising flaps. Impacted. Nosed over. (-23) pilot palmer was on his second solo… ## Other investigations on N4874D (1) 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. - [NTSB ATL93LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL93LA005), Oct 7, 1992: Cessna 172N (N4874D), Apex, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING AND HIS INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS, WHICH RESULTED IN THE OVERRUN OF THE RUNWAY. FACTORS WERE THE TAIL WIND CONDITIONS, AND THE DOWNHILL,… 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.