- Date
- January 20, 2018, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Cloverdale, CA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N64204Cessna 172P
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 14, 2018
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20180120001019A
- Case key
- 96645
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during the approach and his delayed decision to go around.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The private pilot reported that he intended to make two full-stop landings before returning to his home base. The pilot entered the traffic pattern and announced his position as he maneuvered to final approach. The pilot stated that the approach was stable but appeared to be short. He added power and adjusted the pitch for the projected touchdown point beyond the displaced threshold. When the airplane was over the displaced threshold, the stability of the approach was lost. The pilot suspected a swirl of wind or updraft was encountered as the wing raised more than he expected from previous landings at this airport. The pilot tried to regain the runway centerline and level the wings; however, he was unsuccessful. The pilot then made a radio transmission that he was going around. He applied power and raised the flaps (he reported that his intention was to extend the flaps 20o; however, postaccident, the flap position was fully retracted). The airplane rolled to the left and contacted the ground, coming to rest inverted off the side of the runway. The forward fuselage, left wing and vertical stabilizer were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The private pilot reported that he intended to make 2 full-stop landings before returning to his home base. The pilot entered the traffic pattern and announced his position as he maneuvered to final approach. The pilot stated that the approach was stable, but appeared to be short. He added power and adjusted the pitch for the projected touchdown point beyond the displaced threshold. When the airplane was over the displaced threshold, stability of the approach was lost. The pilot suspected a swirl of wind or updraft was encountered as the wing raised more than he expected from previous landings at this airport. The pilot tried to regain the runway centerline and level the wings, however he was unsuccessful. The pilot then made a radio transmission that he was going around. Power was applied and the flaps were raised (intention was 20o, however postaccident, the flap position was fully retracted). The airplane rolled to the left and contacted the ground; coming to rest inverted off the side of the runway. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N64204
- Reported as
- Cessna 172P (P)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17275534
- Built
- 1981
- Airframe hours
- 17,517
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · December 28, 2017
- Departed
- KSTS · Santa Rosa, CA
- Destination
- O60 · Cloverdale, CA
- Airport
- O60 · Cloverdale Municipal Airport, runway 32, 2,909 × 60 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 43
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 18, 2017
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 168.8 total · 28.2 in this make and model · 72.4 as pilot in command · 5.1 in the last 90 days · 0.6 in the last 30 days · 0.6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 340° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 57 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.14 inHg
- Observed at
- KSTS, 18 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 20, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.1 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N64204 · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.