# NTSB NYC08CA230: Cessna 172 SP, N3504X, Stevensville, MD, June 25, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 25, 2008, 17:20 local (21:20 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) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 68471 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC08CA230 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68471/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA230 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's delayed decision to go around. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Airport facilities/design: airport lighting](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017010): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017010/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 118 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The certificated flight instructor (CFI) of the Cessna 172 was demonstrating a simulated engine failure on the downwind leg of a left traffic pattern. He closed the throttle, banked the airplane toward the runway, and trimmed it for "best glide speed with flaps retracted." Approaching the runway environment at an approximately 45-degree angle, the CFI attempted to align the airplane with the runway heading while simultaneously flaring it. He then decided to go around, and added full power; however, the airplane touched down on the south side of the runway, "bounced" towards, then crossed the runway, and exited it on the north side. The airplane then struck in-ground lighting, continued up an embankment, and came to rest in tall grass. The wing spar and firewall were damaged, and no mechanical anomalies were noted with the airplane prior to the accident. Winds reported at a station 7 miles to the west, about the time of the accident, were about 60 degrees from the right of the runway, at 10 knots. ## Factual narrative According to witnesses and the certificated flight instructor (CFI) of the Cessna 172, he was demonstrating a simulated engine failure on the downwind leg of a left traffic pattern. He closed the throttle, banked the airplane toward the runway, and trimmed it for "best glide speed with flaps retracted." Approaching the runway environment at an approximately 45-degree angle, the CFI attempted to align the airplane with the runway heading while simultaneously flaring it. He then decided to go around, and added full power; however, the airplane touched down on the south side of the runway, "bounced" towards, then crossed the runway, and exited it on the north side. The airplane then struck in-ground lighting, continued up an embankment, and came to rest in tall grass. The wing spar and firewall were damaged, and no mechanical anomalies were noted with the airplane prior to the accident. Winds reported at a station 7 miles to the west, about the time of the accident, were about 60 degrees from the right of the runway, at 10 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3504X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3504X-2009-09-23), registration cancelled 2009-09-23, S/N 172S8861, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 SP - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S8861 - Airframe hours: 2213 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Cruising Speed Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 1, 2008 - Departed: W29, Stevensville, MD - Destination: W29 - Airport: W29, Bay Bridge Airport, runway 11, 2,906 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 42; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2008; seat: rear; flight hours: 583 total, 300 in this make and model, 490 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 23; injuries: none; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 10 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: NAK, 7 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 20080625838999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080625838999A), Jun 25, 2008: Cessna 172S, Stevensville, MD, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft on simulated engine out emergency approach stalled in a banked attitude close to the ground and landed hard on the grass area adjacent to the… 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.