# NTSB WPR22LA161: Cessna 172I, N46055, Blanding, UT, April 20, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 20, 2022, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Blanding, UT - Coordinates: 37.583333, -109.48327 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5833&lon=-109.4833&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 104981 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA161 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104981/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104981 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA161 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare which, resulted in a bounced landing and loss of airplane control during an aborted landing in gusty wind conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Cessna 172I, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072426), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172I, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072426), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172I, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072426), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172I, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2072426), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/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 172I, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072426), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that, during a solo cross-country flight while attempting a landing, the airplane bounced, and a gust of wind raised the right wing. The pilot was able to level the wings, when another gust pushed the airplane off course to the left. The pilot applied full throttle and was able to avoid a barbed wired fence, but then the airplane’s wheels struck wheeled crop irrigation equipment, which resulted in the airplane nosing over, and coming to rest inverted on the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported no preaccident malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N46055](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N46055-2023-09-16), registration cancelled 2023-09-16, S/N 17257016, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172I - Registry model: [Cessna 172I](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172i) (registry code 2072426) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17257016 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 4095.16 - Engines: Lycoming 0-320-F2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Roadrunner Flight School LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2022 - Departed: FMN, Farmington, NM - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: BDG, Blanding Municipal Airport, runway 17/35, 5,781 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 47.7 total, 33.1 in this make and model, 4.7 as pilot in command, 16.4 in the last 90 days, 14.2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 10 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KBDG - METAR: KBDG 201535Z AUTO 15010G16KT 10SM 16/M11 A3000 RMK AO1 T01571107 ## 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 20220420005639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220420005639A), Apr 20, 2022: Cessna 172I, Blanding, UT, Substantial damage. On April 20, 2022, the student pilot was conducting one of the required solo cross-country flights to obtain a private pilot?s license. While enroute to the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 19, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104981. 5.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13853406&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB form 6120 pages 3 and 4 (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13853469&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Pages%203%20%26%204-Rel.pdf - Accident pictures (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 840 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13853297&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR22LA161%20%20Accident%20Pictures-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.