# NTSB NYC98LA082: Cessna 172P, N9821L, Plainville, CT, March 29, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 29, 1998, 11:20 local (16:20 UTC) - Place: Plainville, CT - Location: 41.6893° N, 72.8647° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at ROBERTSON FLD (4B8), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6893&lon=-72.8647&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 8, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39545 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC98LA082 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39545/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA082 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate crosswind compensation. ## 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 (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - fence ## Analysis On the pilot's second attempt to land on Runway 2, he established the airplane on final with 20 degrees of flaps and 65 knots of airspeed. The airplane touched down then floated back up approximately 3 feet above the runway. The pilot let the airplane settle back onto the runway while applying full left aileron and full right ruder. The airplane departed the runway, nose pointed slightly right of centerline then traveled down a 60-degree embankment, striking a chain link fence and coming to rest upright. ## Factual narrative On March 29, 1998, at 1120 Eastern Standard Time, a Cessna 172P, N9821L, was substantially damaged during a crosswind landing to Runway 02 at Robertson Field Airport (4B8), Plainville, Connecticut. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated from Newport, Rhode Island, approximately 1025. No flight plan was filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot: upon reaching 4B8, he did a "midfield fly over to establish the winds." The winds were determined to be a direct crosswind for runway 02/20. After entering the traffic pattern and positioning the airplane on final for Runway 02, he executed a go-around at 200 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) because of an excessive lateral drift. On his second attempt to land at 4B8, he established the airplane on final with 20 degrees of flaps, and 65 knots of airspeed. He "touched down OK," then the airplane started to float, approximately 3 feet above the runway. He let the airplane settle back onto the runway while applying full left aileron and full right ruder. The airplane then departed the runway with the nose "pointed slightly right of centerline." After exiting the runway, the airplane traveled down a 60-degree embankment, struck a chain link fence, then came to rest upright. The pilot stated he encountered no mechanical problems with the airplane. The pilot's total flight experience was 158 hours, with 103 hours in Cessna 172Ps. Winds at an airport approximately 10 miles to the southwest of 4B8 were reported, 270 degrees at 16 knots, gust to 21 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9821L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9821L-2000-07-14), registration cancelled 2000-07-14, S/N 17276622 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172P76622 - Airframe hours: 8291 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Interstate Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 17, 1998, 45 hours before - Departed: UUU, NEWPORT, RI - Destination: 4B8, CT - Airport: 4B8, Robertson Field, runway 2, 3,612 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 158 total, 102 in this make and model, 106 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 16 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft broken - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: HFD, 10 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 19980329004529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980329004529A), Mar 29, 1998: Cessna 172P, Plainville, CT, Substantial damage. On March 29, 1998, at 1120 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172P, N9821L was substantially damaged during a crosswind landing to runway 02 at Robertson Field… ## Other investigations on N9821L (1) 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. - [NTSB OAK69F0233](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK69F0233), Jan 12, 1969: Cessna 320 (N9821L), Nut Tree, CA, substantial damage 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.