# NTSB NYC95LA003: Cessna 172N, N733MV, Center Harbor, NH, October 9, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 9, 1994, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Center Harbor, NH - Location: 43.7098° N, 71.4604° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Center Harbor, NH, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7098&lon=-71.4604&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 14, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38879 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA003 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38879/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA003 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR A CROSSWIND CONDITION. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - water,rough - weather condition - crosswind - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis AFTER THE PILOT DEPARTED FROM THE SEAPLANE BASE IN THE RENTED FLOAT PLANE, HE MADE ONE EN ROUTE STOP AT ANOTHER LAKE, THEN LANDED AT HIS DESTINATION LAKE. AT THE DESTINATION LAKE HE GAVE LOCAL SCENIC RIDES TO FRIENDS. AT THE COMPLETION OF THE LAST FLIGHT, HE ESTABLISHED A SOUTHERLY FINAL APPROACH TO THE COVE. WHILE LANDING WITH A KNOWN GUSTING RIGHT CROSSWIND, THE LEFT WING CONTACTED THE WATER CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO GROUND LOOP, AND THE SUBSEQUENT LEFT WING DAMAGE. WINDS REPORTED FROM AN AIRPORT 8 MILES SOUTH WERE FROM 210 DEGREES AT 12 KNOTS, WITH GUSTS TO 17. THE PILOT'S TOTAL FLIGHT TIME WAS REPORTED TO BE ABOUT 131 HOURS, WITH APPROXIMATELY 40 HOURS IN FLOAT PLANE OPERATION. ## Factual narrative On October 9, 1994, at 1430 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, float plane, owned by Turner Aviation Company, Inc., and piloted by Robert Rose, was substantially damaged while landing on Lake Winnipesaukee, near Center Harbor, New Hampshire. The pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR 91. In the NTSB 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that the flight had originated that day at 1130, from a sea plane base in Turner, Maine. He landed on Thompson Lake, Maine and changed passengers. He departed Thompson Lake and arrived at Lake Winnipesaukee about 1300. He then proceeded to give friends scenic rides around the lake. At the completion of the third ride he was returning to land on the lake. The pilot further stated that during the first approach, he went around due to boat traffic in his landing area and established a second approach to land in the cove from north to south. The winds were from the southwest, "swirling and gusty." He used the southerly direction due to the narrowness of the cove. On final approach during the flare, with a right crosswind, a gust of wind caused the left wing to contact the water, which resulted in a left spin in the water. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector's report, the winds were reported to be "strong from the south with gusts over 20 knots." The winds reports at an airport on the lake, 8 miles south of the accident site, were from 210 degrees at 12 knots, with gusts to 17. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N733MV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N733MV), registered now, S/N 17268405, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17268405 - Airframe hours: 3977 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Turner Aviation Co. Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 18, 1994 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 131 total, 40 in this make and model, 94 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 12 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LCI, 8 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 19941009048469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941009048469A), Oct 9, 1994: Cessna 172N, Center Harbor, NH, Substantial damage. Landing float plane on lake in gusty crosswind. Wing dipped into water. Left spin or water looped. 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.