# NTSB WPR11CA449: Cessna 172M, N9197H, Wendover, UT, September 14, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 14, 2011, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Wendover, UT - Coordinates: 40.772777, -113.383613 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7728&lon=-113.3836&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 1, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Adminstration FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81792 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11CA449 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81792/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81792 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA449 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a nose over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 123 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot overflew an off-field landing site multiple times to assess the surface conditions. He observed an area with tire tracks and concluded that the surface was stable enough to perform a landing. He configured the airplane for a soft field landing, with the main landing gear touching the ground first. He reported that the ground felt firm as he lowered the nose; however, as the nosewheel touched the surface, the airplane experienced a sudden deceleration and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and vertical stabilizer during the accident sequence. Postaccident examination of the landing surface revealed that it consisted of soft, wet mud, topped with a shallow dry crust. ## Factual narrative The pilot had just performed three uneventful touch-and-go landings at a hard surface airport. He subsequently elected to depart for the local salt flats to perform an off-field landing. He overflew a prospective landing site, performing multiple flybys to assess the surface conditions. He observed an area with tire tracks, and concluded that the surface was therefore stable enough to perform a landing. He configured the airplane for a soft field landing, with the main landing gear touching the ground first. He reported that the ground felt firm as he lowered the nose; however, as the nose wheel touched the surface the airplane experienced a sudden deceleration, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and vertical stabilizer during the accident sequence. Examination of the landing surface revealed that it consisted of soft wet mud, topped with a shallow dry crust. The airplane was equipped with conventional tires. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9197H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9197H-2013-05-22), registration cancelled 2013-05-22, S/N 17266009, 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: 17266009 - Airframe hours: 5173 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, October 6, 2010, 84 hours before - Departed: U42, South Valley, UT - Destination: Wendover, UT - Airport: U42, South Valley ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 11, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 117 total, 28 in this make and model, 80 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: SLC, 70 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 20110914019629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110914019629A), Sep 14, 2011: Cessna 172M, Wendover, UT, Substantial damage. On September 14, 2011 at 1600 local, N9197H, a Cessna 172M, operated by [privacy data omitted] was involved in an accident when the pilot attempted to land on… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 17, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81792. 763 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 316 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355471&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: Airplane Inverted (item 2, .PDF, 201 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355472&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Airplane%20Inverted-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Ground Ruts (item 3, .PDF, 246 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355473&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Ground%20Ruts-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.