# NTSB MKC86LA065: Cessna 172, N3979L, Grain Valley, MO, March 2, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 2, 1986, 12:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Grain Valley, MO
- Coordinates: 39.000064, -94.200225 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0001&lon=-94.2002&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34141
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC86LA065
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34141/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC86LA065

## 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
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment

## Analysis

THE PIC WAS MAKING A ROUNDTRIP FLT TO NUMEROUS AIRPORTS ACROSS KANSAS AND MISSOURI. THE OWNER OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS ABOARD FOR THE TRIP WHICH WAS FOR PLEASURE. THE PIC HAD OBTAINED WEATHER INFO AND WAS APPRISED OF THE WIND CONDITIONS FOR HIS ROUTE OF FLT. UPON LANDING AT GRAIN VALLEY AIRPORT, THE PIC LANDED ON ONE GEAR AND THE ACFT BOUNCED INTO THE AIR. THE ACFT FINALLY SETTLED ON BOTH MAIN GEAR, BUT WHEN THE NOSE GEAR SETTLED THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE EAST WEST RWY. NO LANDING GEAR PBLM WAS NOTED AFTER THE LANDING. THE PIC STATED THAT AFTER THE NOSE GEAR MADE CONTACT WITH THE RWY IT VEERED LEFT AND HE WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PBLM BEFORE DEPARTING THE SIDE OF THE RWY. WIND WAS BLOWING FROM 310 DEGREES MAGNETIC AT 15 KTS WITH RPTS FM THE ACCIDENT AIRPORT OF WIND GUST TO 22 KTS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3979L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3979L), registered now, S/N 17254148, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172g) (registry code 2072420) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17254148
- Airframe hours: 1920
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300 SER 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Ronald P. Combest
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 16, 1985, 78 hours before
- Departed: TOP, TOPEKA, KS
- Destination: 3GV, GRAIN VALLEY, MO
- Airport: 3GV, East Kansas City, runway 27, 3,800 × 45 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 150 total, 60 in this make and model, 95 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MKC, 15 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 19860302006789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860302006789A), Mar 2, 1986: Cessna 172G, Grain Valley, MO, Substantial damage. Bounced, landed on mains but did not align nose wheel before it touched, veered off runway side, hit embankment.

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.