# NTSB WPR23LA253: Cessna 172S, N372AH, Novato, CA, June 30, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 30, 2023, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Novato, CA · Gnoss Field Airport
- Coordinates: 38.143576, -122.55709
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1436&lon=-122.5571&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-aborted after touchdown: 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: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 192525
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA253
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192525/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192525
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA253

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll for a touch and go, which resulted in a collision with terrain.

## 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 172S, 206 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072439), [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; cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 66 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 118 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, during the landing roll for a touch-and-go, he retracted the flaps and advanced the throttle to full. Subsequently, the airplane veered hard left and the pilot attempted to correct with opposite rudder control; however, the airplane exited the runway. The airplane impacted terrain and came to rest in a shallow creek , in which both wings were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N372AH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N372AH), registered now, S/N 172S10156, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S
- Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172S10156
- Year built: 2006
- Airframe hours: 3679
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Scanlon Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 1, 2023, 31 hours before
- Departed: KDVO, Novato, CA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: DVO, Gnoss Field Airport, runway 13, 3,303 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 16, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 450 total, 112 in this make and model, 340 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observed at: KDVO, 1 nm away
- METAR: KDVO 302115Z AUTO 12007KT 10SM CLR 32/18 A2987 RMK AO2

## 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 20230630008379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230630008379A), Jun 30, 2023: Cessna 172S, Novato, CA, Substantial damage. While performing touch and goes (t&g) at Gnoss Field (kdvo) during VFR conditions, pilot veered off runway 13 approx. 1900FT down the runway. The pilot…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 2, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192525. 4.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15792263&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20WPR23LA253_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15792891&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20WPR23LA253-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.

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