# NTSB NYC07CA019: Cessna 172M, N20931, Wakefield, VA, October 31, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 31, 2006, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Wakefield, VA
- Coordinates: 36.98722, -77.001113
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9872&lon=-77.0011&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 26, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA FSDO-21
- NTSB case key (mKey): 64803
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC07CA019
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64803/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07CA019

## Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain control during the landing. A factor to the accident was the wind gusts.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise
  - electrical system - failure
- Loss of control - in flight, landing
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - runway

## Analysis

While on a solo cross country flight in a Cessna 172M, the student pilot elected to divert instead of continuing with his planned flight after the airplane's radios began to operate intermittently and the electrical system failed. During the landing at the diversionary airport, the winds were gusting at 18 to 25 knots, though the winds had been originally forecasted to be favorable for his route of flight. During the landing the airplane lost "lift," touched down on the nose landing gear, and porpoised about three times before the student pilot was able to regain control. A post accident examination of the airplane revealed that it had incurred substantial damage. No anomalies with the electrical system were discovered.

## Factual narrative

While on a solo cross country flight in a Cessna 172M, the student pilot elected to divert instead of continuing with his planned flight after the airplane's radios began to operate intermittently and the electrical system failed. During the landing at the diversionary airport, the winds were gusting at 18 to 25 knots, though the winds had been originally forecast to be favorable for his route of flight. During the landing the airplane lost "lift," touched down on the nose landing gear, and porpoised about three times before the student pilot was able to regain control. A post accident examination of the airplane revealed that it had incurred substantial damage. No anomalies with the electrical system were discovered.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N20931](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N20931-2007-12-13), registration cancelled 2007-12-13, S/N 17263871 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17263871
- Airframe hours: 14107
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Norfolk Aviation Inc., doing business as Mercury Flight Center
- Registered owner: Red Rock Aviation Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2006
- Departed: EMV, Emporia, VA
- Destination: AKQ
- Airport: AKQ, Wakefield Municipal Airport, runway 20, 4,337 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 31; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 76 total, 70 in this make and model, 26 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 18 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.01 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 20061031022929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20061031022929A), Oct 31, 2006: Cessna 172M, Wakefield, VA, Substantial damage. (-23) Student pilot reports while on solo cross country from emporia airport (emv) to elizabeth city (ecg) he encountered turbulence. He diverted to hampton…

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.

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