# NTSB WPR12CA232: Cessna 172S, N21718, Page, AZ, May 27, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 27, 2012, 09:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Page, AZ
- Coordinates: 36.922222, -111.442222 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9222&lon=-111.4422&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 7, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Adminstration FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 83761
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12CA232
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83761/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83761
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA232

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing flare.

## 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 172S, 66 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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 172S, 206 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 118 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The private pilot was flying the airplane and another pilot was acting as a safety pilot during the approach to landing. The flying pilot stated that he held the airplane in a left yaw during the final approach, and the safety pilot stated that he was looking through the airplane’s rear window at the airplane that was just behind them. The safety pilot said that he became concerned that the airplane behind them was flying too close and that he continued to watch as it overflew their position during the flare. When the safety pilot looked forward, he noticed that the airplane he was in was in a yaw condition, and the pilot had not aligned the airplane with the runway centerline for landing. The pilot attempted to correct the yaw during the flare, but the airplane landed in a side load condition on the left main landing gear and then veered off the left side of the runway. The safety pilot tried to take control of the airplane, but it continued into the ramp area and collided with two parked aircraft. The accident airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and the left side of the main cabin, and one of the parked airplanes sustained substantial damage to its rear cabin and tail section. The accident pilots reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The private pilot was at the airplane controls during the landing approach. Another private pilot was present, and acting in the capacity of a safety/lookout. The pilot held the airplane in a yaw during the landing approach, while the safety pilot looked through the rear window in order to monitor another airplane, which was just behind them. The safety pilot became concerned that the airplane behind was flying too close, and watched as it overflew their position during the flare. He then looked forward and noticed that the airplane was still in a yaw condition, and not aligned with the runway centerline. The pilot attempted to correct the yaw during the flare, but landed in a side load condition on the left main landing gear, and the airplane subsequently veered off the runway. The safety pilot attempted to take control of the airplane, but it continued into the ramp area and collided with two parked aircraft. The airplane and one of the parked aircraft sustained substantial damage during the accident sequence. The pilots reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N21718](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N21718), registered now, S/N 172S9645, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S
- Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172S9645
- Airframe hours: 4265
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Westwind Aviation
- Registered owner: Az Flight Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 5, 2012, 24 hours before
- Departed: DVT, Deer Valley, AZ
- Destination: PGA, Page, AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: PGA, Page Municipal, runway 33, 5,950 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 10, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 158 total, 158 in this make and model, 80 as pilot in command, 104 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours
- Other flight crew; age 31; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 14, 2012; seat: right; flight hours: 250 total, 250 in this make and model, 160 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observed at: PGA

## 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 20120527011071A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120527011071A), May 27, 2012: Cessna 172S, Page, AZ, Substantial damage. I approached straight-in runway 33 with 65 knots indicated speed. Other airplane was on downwind. Iwas crabbing (not side slipping), then tried to co rrect yaw…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 15, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83761. 1.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40370389&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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