# NTSB NYC97LA189: Cessna 172, N5338E, Kutztown, PA, September 28, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 28, 1997, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Kutztown, PA - Coordinates: 40.520957, -75.769424 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5210&lon=-75.7694&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 4, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39438 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC97LA189 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39438/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA189 ## Probable cause the student pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft, which resulted in an inadvertent ground swerve. Factors relating to the accident were: the student's pilot's selection of the wrong runway, the resultant tailwind, and the encounter with a cornfield beside the runway. ## 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 - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor) ## Analysis The student pilot radioed his intention to land on runway 35 over the UNICOM frequency, and was advised by another pilot that runway 10 was in use. The student then landed on runway 28. During the landing roll, the airplane veered right, departed the right side of the runway, and traveled into a cornfield. The student reported he had 84 hours of total flight experience, all in make and model, of which 20.5 hours were solo time. At an airport about 11 miles southwest of the accident site, the wind was resorted to be from 100 degrees at 10 knots. ## Factual narrative On September 28, 1997, about 1330 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N5338E, was substantially damage while landing at the Kutztown Airport (N31), Kutztown, Pennsylvania. The student pilot (SP) was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the solo flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a written statement, the SP said he departed Decks Airport (9D4), Myerstown, Pennsylvania. After practicing maneuvers in the area, he performed and five short field landings at 9D4, and then flew to N31. He further stated: "...I radioed my intentions to land on runway 35 over the unicom. I was advised by a pilot that runway 10 was being used. I then went into, what I thought was my pattern for a runway 10 landing, and some how became disoriented and actually landed on [runway] 28. Upon landing, I wasn't able to stop in time, and left the runway, and went into a corn fied." According to a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, the SP stated to him that during the landing flare the airplane floated and touched down mid-field, on the 2,260 foot runway. The airplane then veered right, departed the right side of the runway, and traveled into a cornfield, where it entered a ditch. In a telephone interview, the SP reported he had 84 hours of total flight experience, all in make and model, of which 20.5 hours were solo flight. He also stated, the majority of his solo flight time was accumulated on several cross country flights. Winds reported at an airport about 11 miles southwest of the accident site, at 1254, were from 100 degrees at 10 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5338E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5338E-2008-02-14), registration cancelled 2008-02-14, S/N 17271838, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - 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: 17271838 - Airframe hours: 7275 - Engines: Lycoming 172N 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Reading Flite Academy - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 13, 1997, 60 hours before - Departed: 9D4, MYERSTOWN, PA - Destination: N31, PA - Airport: N31, Kutztown, runway 28, 2,260 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 85 total, 84 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 10 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: RDG, 11 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 19970928039669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970928039669A), Sep 28, 1997: Cessna 172N, Kutztown, PA, Substantial damage. Landed downwind. Swerved to avoid overrun on short runway. Ran into a ditch. (.4) the student pilot radioed his intention to land on runway 35 over the UNICOM… 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.