# NTSB NYC95LA081: Cessna 172, N66010, Mitchellville, MD, March 24, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 24, 1995, 12:50 local (17:50 UTC)
- Place: Mitchellville, MD
- Coordinates: 38.920955, -76.789138 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9210&lon=-76.7891&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 23, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38937
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA081
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38937/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA081

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control and the instructor's inadequate supervision.  Related factors: high winds, and a crosswind.

## 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 (cause)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather evaluation - inadequate, flight instructor(on ground) (cause)
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS AUTHORIZED BY HIS INSTRUCTOR TO OPERATE IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN.  HE HAD LANDED ON RUNWAY 36, AND DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, INTO A DITCH, AND NOSED OVER.  ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S STATEMENT, AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE WINDS WERE, 'BLOWING GREATER THAN FORECASTED, [FROM 270] AT 15 KNOTS, [GUSTS] TO 35 KNOTS.'  THE PILOT WROTE ON HIS STATEMENT, '...ON ROLL OUT AIRCRAFT WEATHER VANED INTO WIND, LEFT RUNWAY, WENT INTO DITCH AND FLIPPED OVER.'  RUNWAY 36 WAS 30 FEET WIDE AND 2400 FEET LONG.

## Factual narrative

On March 24, 1995, at 1250 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172, N66010, piloted by Brett Murray, was substantially damaged during the landing roll at the Freeway Airport, Mitchellville, Maryland. The pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR 91.

The student pilot was authorized by his instructor to conduct solo flight in the traffic pattern.  He landed on runway 36 and during the landing roll, the airplane departed the runway to the left, entered a ditch, and nosed over.

According to the pilot's statement on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, at the time of the accident the winds were, "blowing greater than forecasted, [from 270] at 15 [gusts] to 35 knots."  The pilot also wrote, "...on roll out aircraft weather vaned into wind, left runway, went into ditch and flipped over."

Runway 36 was 30 feet wide and 2400 feet long.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N66010](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N66010-1998-05-08), registration cancelled 1998-05-08, S/N 17275947 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17275947
- Airframe hours: 10000
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2L 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Freeway Airport Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 24, 1995, 10 hours before
- Airport: W00, Freeway Airport, runway 36, 2,400 × 30 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 55 total, 55 in this make and model, 7 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 20 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Temperature: 55 °F
- Altimeter: 31.00 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 19950324006599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950324006599A), Mar 24, 1995: Cessna 172P, Mitchellville, MD, Substantial damage. Solo student lost control landing in severe crosswind. Weathervaned into a ditch. Too much wind for solo student.

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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