# NTSB WPR23LA325: Cessna 172M, N4432R, Carson City, NV, August 25, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 25, 2023, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Carson City, NV · KCXP - Coordinates: 39.19, -119.73 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1900&lon=-119.7300&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 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): 192951 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA325 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192951/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192951 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA325 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during an aborted landing in gusting wind conditions. ## 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 172M, 123 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 47 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during landing, the airplane encountered a gust of wind and ballooned above the runway. Just before touchdown, the airplane encountered a second gust of wind and the pilot added engine power to abort the landing. Subsequently, the airplane drifted to the left and touched down on the parallel taxiway, skidded across the taxiway, and then impacted a ditch. The airplane’s engine mount and fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4432R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4432R), registered now, S/N 17263177, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17263177 - Year built: 1974 - Airframe hours: 7120.3 - Engines: Lycoming O-320_D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 24, 2023, 5.3 hours before - Departed: KLKV, Lakeview, OR - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: KCXP, Carson City, runway 09, 6,101 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 17, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 156.6 total, 152.1 in this make and model, 105.9 as pilot in command, 5.4 in the last 90 days, 5.4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Turbulence: Light - Observed at: KCXP - METAR: METAR KCXP 252055Z AUTO 20006KT 10SM CLR 31/06 A3009 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 20230825012909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230825012909A), Aug 25, 2023: Cessna 172M, Carson City, NV, Substantial damage. Mishap aircraft departed klkv at 1130 enroute to kcxp which arrived around 1400. Initial landing set up was a downwind to for runway 27, but was advised by… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192951. 3.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16177097&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA325%206120_flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16185999&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA325damage%20photos_508-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.