# NTSB SEA03LA036: Cessna 172N, N734KU, McMinnville, OR, February 8, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 8, 2003, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: McMinnville, OR - Coordinates: 45.195556, -123.137779 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1956&lon=-123.1378&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 23, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Portland FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56461 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA03LA036 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56461/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56461 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA036 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and his failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Factors include gusty crosswinds and soft terrain in the area where the aircraft departed the side of 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 - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot, who was landing in gusty crosswinds, had already made one landing and was on the landing roll of his second when he encountered crosswinds that lifted the aircraft's left wing in the air. At the same time as the wing was being lifted, the aircraft started drifting toward the right side of the runway. As the pilot attempted to get the wing down using aileron deflection, and tried to get the aircraft heading straight down the runway, it felt to him like the aircraft was going to cartwheel. He therefore decided to let the aircraft go off the side of the runway in the direction it was headed. After departing the runway, the aircraft encountered soft terrain, whereupon the nose gear dug in and the aircraft nosed over. According to the pilot, except for a minor nose wheel shimmy, there did not seem to be any problems with the aircraft's controls. ## Factual narrative On February 8, 2003, approximately 1300 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172N, N734KU, nosed over during the landing roll at McMinnville Municipal Airport, McMinnville, Oregon. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, but the aircraft, which is owned and operated by Starks Twin Oaks Airpark, Inc., sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which was being conducted in the VFR pattern at McMinnville, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation. According to the pilot, who was landing in gusty crosswinds, he had already made one landing and was on the landing roll of his second when he encountered crosswinds that lifted the aircraft's left wing in the air. At the same time as the wing was being lifted, the aircraft started drifting toward the right side of the runway. As the pilot attempted to get the wing down using aileron deflection, and tried to get the aircraft heading straight down the runway, it felt to him like the aircraft was going to cartwheel. He therefore decided to let the aircraft go off the side of the runway in the direction it was headed. After departing the runway, the aircraft encountered soft terrain, whereupon the nose gear dug in and the aircraft nosed over. According to the pilot, except for a minor nose wheel shimmy, there did not seem to be any problems with the aircraft's controls. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N734KU](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N734KU), registered now, S/N 17268921, built 1977 (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: 17268921 - Airframe hours: 3763 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Twin Oaks Airpark, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 17, 2003, 45 hours before - Departed: MMV, McMinnville, OR - Destination: MMV - Airport: MMV, McMinnville Municipal, runway 04, 5,420 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review August 16, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 74 total, 5 in this make and model, 37 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 7 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 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 20030208001209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030208001209A), Feb 8, 2003: Cessna 172N, Mcminnville, OR, Substantial damage. (.19) On February 8, 2003, approximately 1315 pacific standard time, a Cessna 172K, N734KU, collided with the terrain during the landing roll at Mcminnville… ## Other investigations on N734KU (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 LAX08CA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA053), Jan 25, 2008: Cessna 172N (N734KU), Beaver Marsh, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision to land on a snow covered runway without first determining the depth of the snow. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 17, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56461. 503 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 503 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40178366&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF 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.