# NTSB SEA03LA047: Cessna 172M, N64427, Idaho Falls, ID, March 17, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 17, 2003, 10:53 local (17:53 UTC) - Place: Idaho Falls, ID - Coordinates: 43.508056, -112.07917 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5081&lon=-112.0792&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56641 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA03LA047 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56641/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA047 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain proper runway alignment (centerline tracking) during a go around maneuver resulting in the aircraft impacting a runway light. Contributing factors were the gusty/crosswind conditions and the light fixture. ## Analysis The student pilot had taken off and was practicing touch and go landings on runway 20. The winds at the time and location of the accident were reported as 340 degrees magnetic at 17 knots with gusts to 21 knots. After executing a go around due to the wind conditions, he initiated another approach and encountered the same conditions with greater magnitude. He initiated another go around during which the aircraft drifted right, and as he pitched the nose up, the aircraft's left horizontal stabilizer impacted a runway light. ## Factual narrative On March 17, 2003, at 1053 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172M, N64427, registered to/operated by Avcenter, Inc., and being flown by a student pilot, sustained substantial damage when the aircraft impacted a runway light on a go around at Fanning Field, Idaho Falls, Idaho. The pilot was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was instructional, was operated under 14 CFR 91 and originated at Fanning Field at 1040. The student pilot, who was on his second solo flight, reported that he was conducting touch and go landings on runway 20 at Fanning Field, when he encountered left gusting crosswinds on the first approach while descending through about 150 feet above ground. He executed a go around and on his second approach encountered the same conditions with greater magnitude. The student reported that on this approach he was "...offset to the left & upon correcting went offset to the right and my heading was across the field. I gave the plane full power proceeded to clean up the plane and pitched up to do a flyover. As I pitched up the empennage went down enough to hit a runway light with the left stabilizer...." The student pilot continued climbing out, returned and landed successfully on runway 02. Surface winds reported at Fanning Field at 1053 were from 340 degrees magnetic at 17 knots with gusts to 21 knots. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, go-around (vfr) - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - object - runway light (contributing factor) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N64427](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N64427), registered now, S/N 17265219, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17265219 - Airframe hours: 6243.5 - Engines: Continental O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Avcenter, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 9, 2003, 77.3 hours before - Departed: IDA, Idaho Falls, ID - Destination: IDA - Airport: IDA, Fanning Field, runway 20, 9,001 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 22 total, 22 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 17 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.68 inHg - Observed at: IDA ## 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 20030317003049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030317003049A), Mar 17, 2003: Cessna 172M, Idaho Falls, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) On March 17, 2003 at 10:50 a.m. MST, a Cessna 172M, N64427, piloted by student pilot garth brinkerhoff, struck a runway light with the left stabilizer… ## Other investigations on N64427 (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 WPR10CA323](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA323), Jul 1, 2010: Cessna 172M (N64427), Twin Falls, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's improper landing flare. 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.