# NTSB NYC04CA084: Cessna 172S, N317ME, Stevensville, MD, March 7, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 7, 2004, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Stevensville, MD - Coordinates: 38.976387, -76.329719 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9764&lon=-76.3297&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58867 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04CA084 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58867/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04CA084 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while landing. A factor was the student pilot's lack of experience. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis The student pilot had completed 14 hours of instructional flight, and was performing her first solo flight. She landed on a 2,903-foot long, 60-foot wide, asphalt runway. While on final approach for her second landing, the student pilot noted that the airplane was right of the runway center. She corrected with left rudder; however, the airplane veered sharply left upon touchdown. While trying to regain control, the student pilot inadvertently relaxed the back pressure on the yoke, which caused the propeller to strike the runway. The airplane subsequently departed the right side of the runway, traveled through a ditch, and came to rest upright in a grass area. ## Factual narrative On March 7, 2004, about 0830 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172S, N317ME was substantially damaged while landing at Bay Bridge Airport (W29), Stevensville, Maryland. The certificated student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local solo instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The student pilot reported that she had completed 14 hours of instructional flight, and was performing her first solo flight. She landed on runway 29, a 2,903-foot long, 60-foot wide, asphalt runway. The student pilot then attempted a second landing at W29. While on final approach, the student pilot noted that the airplane was right of the runway center. She corrected with left rudder; however, the airplane veered sharply left upon touchdown. While trying to regain control, the student pilot inadvertently relaxed the back pressure on the yoke, which caused the propeller to strike the runway. The airplane subsequently departed the right side of the runway, traveled through a ditch, and came to rest upright in a grass area. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector observed damage to the propeller, nose gear, and firewall. The reported wind at an airport approximately 20 miles northwest of the accident site, at 0854, was from 270 degrees at 10 knots. The student pilot stated that at the time of the accident, the winds were light and variable. ## Aircraft - Registration: N317ME (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172S - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S8562 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: J&S Services Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: W29, Stevensville, MD - Destination: W29 - Airport: W29, Bay Bridge Airport, runway 29, 2,903 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 22; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3; flight hours: 14 total, 14 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 34 °F ## 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 20040307035269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040307035269A), Mar 7, 2004: Cessna 172S, Stevensville, MD, Substantial damage. (-23) On second solo landing the student pilot failed to maintain proper pitch attitude and struck the propeller. 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.