# NTSB WPR10CA255: Cessna 172P, N529MC, Las Vegas, NV, May 22, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 22, 2010, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Las Vegas, NV
- Coordinates: 35.972778, -115.134445
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9728&lon=-115.1344&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 1, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 76080
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10CA255
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76080/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76080
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA255

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and failure to maintain directional control during taxi.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Taxi-from runway: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Taxi-from runway: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that he made a normal landing on runway 17L. The pilot was instructed to cross runway 17R without delay. As he was taxiing, the airplane began to weather vane left into the wind. The pilot tried to correct back to the taxiway with the right rudder but the airplane continued to the left and hit a taxiway light. As the pilot continued to maneuver to the left, the airplane went into a ditch and the tail struck an airport sign.

## Factual narrative

The pilot stated that a normal landing was made on runway 17L. The pilot was instructed to cross runway 17R without delay. As he was taxiing, the airplane began to weather vane left into the wind. The pilot tried to correct back to the taxiway with the right rudder but the airplane continued to the left and hit a taxiway light. As the pilot continued to maneuver to the left, the airplane went into a ditch and the tail struck an airport sign.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N529MC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N529MC), registered now, S/N 17274639, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17274639
- Airframe hours: 13982
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Rhoads Eric S DBA
- Registered owner: Rhoads Eric S DBA
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 19, 2010, 21 hours before
- Departed: KSNA, Santa Ana, CA
- Destination: KHND, Henderson, NV
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: KHND, Henderson, runway 17L, 5,001 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 14, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 110 total, 110 in this make and model, 44 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 21 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observed at: KHND

## 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 20100522005829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100522005829A), May 22, 2010: Cessna 172P, Henderson, NV, Substantial damage. While taxing westbound on taxiway foxtrot between runway 17L and 17R, tower called N529MC to cross 17R "without delay … and contact ground". The pilot…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 6, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76080. 680 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 680 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40330919&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.

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