# NTSB WPR20CA178: Cessna 172, N75989, Santa Barbara, CA, June 9, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 9, 2020, 11:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Santa Barbara, CA - Coordinates: 34.427223, -119.839996 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4272&lon=-119.8400&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101428 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20CA178 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101428/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101428 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA178 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with a fence. ## 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 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) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed 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) ## 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) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during landing, the airplane bounced after touchdown. He applied full power to abort the landing and the airplane became airborne. The pilot then then changed his mind and landed the airplane on the remaining runway. After touching down the second time, the pilot was unable to maintain directional control and the airplane departed the runway surface and collided with a fence. The wing spar and empennage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N75989](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N75989-2021-09-11), registration cancelled 2021-09-11, S/N 17268089, 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: 17268089 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 10276.2 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 8, 2020, 2 hours before - Departed: CMA, Camarillo, CA - Destination: SBA, Santa Barbara, CA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: SBA, Santa Barbara, runway 15L, 4,180 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 160 total, 160 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KSBA ## 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 20200609006129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200609006129A), Jun 9, 2020: Cessna 172N, Santa Barbara, CA, Substantial damage. At 1110 PDT on June 9, 2020, N75989 touched down on ksba runway 13L at a high rate of descent causing the aircraft to bounce airborne. The pilot immediately… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101428. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 531 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9834629&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20report%20for%20C-172%20N%2075989_0035_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 531 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9834015&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos%20WPR20CA178-Rel.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.