# NTSB WPR20CA071: Cessna 172, N73707, Sun River, OR, January 20, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 20, 2020, 12:25 local (19:25 UTC) - Place: Sun River, OR - Coordinates: 43.875556, -121.45333 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.8756&lon=-121.4533&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 16, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 100844 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20CA071 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100844/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100844 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA071 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll on a runway with icy patches, which resulted in impact with a snowbank and a subsequent nose-over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 150 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [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 172N, 82 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: snow/ice](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022060): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022060/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022060/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 81 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 81 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 134 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 44 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, after an uneventful cross-country flight, the airplane landed smoothly on the runway and started to veer left. The pilot added right rudder, but the airplane continued to veer left. He aborted the landing by applying full engine power and continued to apply right rudder, but the airplane exited the left side of the runway, impacted a snowbank, and nosed over. The pilot reported that the runway was coated in icy patches. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that after an uneventful cross-country flight, the airplane landed smoothly onto the runway and started to veer left. The pilot added right rudder and despite his actions the airplane continued to veer left. He aborted the landing by applying full engine power, continued to apply the right rudder, but the airplane collided with a snowbank on the left side of the runway and nosed over. The pilot reported that the runway was coated in icy patches. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N73707](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N73707), registered now, S/N 17267620, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 (N) - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17267620 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 9712 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Leading Edge Aviation, Inc. - Registered owner: Leading Edge Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 11, 2020, 12 hours before - Departed: BDN, Bend, OR - Destination: S21, Sun River, OR - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: S21, Sunriver, runway 18, 5,461 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 18, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 152 total, 151 in this make and model, 108 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KS21 ## 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 20200120021769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200120021769A), Jan 20, 2020: Cessna 172N, Sun River, OR, Substantial damage. Pilot set the plane down for landing on centerline of runway 18 in a southbound direction, pilot encountered thin ice patches, pilot then veered to the east as… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 10, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100844. 3.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481102&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo Array-Accident Site (item 2, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481103&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-Accident%20Site-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.