# NTSB WPR18CA048: Cessna 172P, N54873, Valley Springs, CA, December 14, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 14, 2017, 13:44 local (21:44 UTC) - Place: Valley Springs, CA - Coordinates: 38.086112, -120.758613 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0861&lon=-120.7586&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report June 14, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 96488 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR18CA048 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96488/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96488 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18CA048 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees while maneuvering for landing and his decision to land on a surface with obstructions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: debris/dirt/foreign object](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition; cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 101 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: 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) - [Landing: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The two commercial pilots reported that the purpose of the flight was to identify suitable emergency landing sites in the area. They located a small private airport, and they decided to make a landing. The right-seat pilot took control and made a low pass over the runway and saw piles of gravel blocking half the width of the runway. He decided to attempt a short-field landing. While maneuvering for landing, the airplane was in a left bank turn when the wing collided with a tree. The pilot applied rudder control and thought about going around but decided against it due to trees blocking the runway. He entered the airplane into a left-wing-down slip as he tried to keep the airplane as level as possible. The airplane touched down on the right landing gear, and the right wing dug into the dirt. The airplane subsequently came to rest inverted. During the accident sequence, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation. Neither pilot submitted the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Form 6120.1. ## Factual narrative The two commercial pilots reported that the purpose of the flight was to identify suitable emergency landing sites in the area. A small private airport was located, and they decided to make a landing. The right seat pilot took control and made a low pass over the runway and discovered piles of gravel blocking half the width of the runway. He decided to attempt a short field landing. While maneuvering for landing, the airplane was in a left bank turn when the wing collided with a tree. The pilot applied rudder control and thought about going around but decided against it due to trees blocking the runway. The airplane was put into a left wing down slip as he tried to keep the airplane as level as possible. The airplane touched down on the right-side landing gear and the right wing dug into the dirt. The airplane subsequently came to rest inverted. During the accident sequence the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage and wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation. Neither pilot submitted the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Form 6120.1. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N54873](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N54873-2018-12-06), registration cancelled 2018-12-06, S/N 17275075, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P (P) - 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: 17275075 - Year built: 1981 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: None - Departed: RIU, RANCHO MURIETA, CA - Destination: UNK, Valley Springs, CA - Airport: UNK, Wagon Wheel Ranch Privat Strip ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, waiver time limited special; seat: right; restraint: 3-point - Pilot-rated passenger; age 75; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; seat: left; restraint: 3-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: KO22, 16 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 20171214024349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171214024349A), Dec 14, 2017: Cessna 172P, Valley Springs, CA, Destroyed. N54973, C172P, aircraft clipped a tree and crashed near end of the runway on a private dirt strip, 12/14/17 @ 1400 PST...2 POB Accident on the property of… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 2, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96488. 1.8 MB in all. - Statement (Pilot) (item 1, .PDF, 152 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40462854&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20(Pilot)-Master.PDF - Statement (Pilot-Rated Passenger) (item 2, .PDF, 739 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40462855&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20(Pilot-Rated%20Passenger)-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 3, .PDF, 5 photos, 872 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40462856&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.