# NTSB WPR24LA022: Cessna 172N, N734LJ, Bandera, WA, October 18, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 18, 2023, 13:39 local (20:39 UTC)
- Place: Bandera, WA
- Coordinates: 47.395369, -121.53647 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3954&lon=-121.5365&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 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
- NTSB case key (mKey): 193299
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA022
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193299/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193299
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA022

## Probable cause

The pilot’s decision to land at a closed water-soaked grass runway, which resulted in a runway excursion.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: wet surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md)
- [Planning/preparation: performance calculations](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: surface speed/braking](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 238 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [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: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); 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 during landing on the 2,344 ft grass runway, the airplane floated and touched down near mid-field. The pilot applied the brakes and retracted the flaps, but the turf runway was waterlogged, and the airplane exited the end of the runway and nosed over. According to the airport’s chart supplement, the airport was closed from October 1, 2023, to June 1, 2023. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N734LJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N734LJ), registered now, S/N 17268935 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17268935
- Year built: 1977
- Airframe hours: 4549.9
- Engines: Lycoming O-260-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: James Mitchell
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 12, 2023, 60.4 hours before
- Departed: ESW, Easton, WA
- Destination: 4W0, Bandera, WA
- Airport: 4W0, Bandera State, runway 08/26, 2,344 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 19; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1; last flight review June 16, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 134.1 total, 78 in this make and model, 81.4 as pilot in command, 47 in the last 90 days, 23.5 in the last 30 days, 1.3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observed at: KSMP, 11 nm away
- METAR: METAR KSMP 182056Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 18/08 A3015 RMK AO2 SLP197 T01780083 58008=

## 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 20231018022409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231018022409A), Oct 18, 2023: Cessna 172N, North Bend, WA, Substantial damage. PIC attempted to land at 4W0, which was closed for the season. On approach, PIC began landing checks as he was in the left downwind and turned left base for a…

## Other investigations on N734LJ (1)

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.

- [NTSB CHI95LA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA032), Nov 6, 1994: Cessna 172 (N734LJ), Hudson, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: inadequate maintenance (major overhaul) by maintenance personnel which resulted in the total loss of engine power. Soft terrain was a related factor.

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 6, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193299. 4.4 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=16577767&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's complete 6120_1 narrative (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 784 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16577693&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1%20Complete%20Narrative_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Airplane owner's statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16577524&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Owner%20Mitchell%20Narative%20N734LJ_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- K4W0 airport chart supplement (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 712 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16577757&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=K4W0%20Chart%20Supplement-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's landing performance calculations (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16577619&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Performance%20Planning%20Calculations-Rel.pdf
- Brake inspection and repair estimate (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 322 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16577918&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Brake%20Inspection%20-%20Repair%20Estimate_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photograph (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 169 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16582315&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photograph-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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