Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 172C near Venice, LA — 2015-08-15

Final reportCEN15LA371
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Date
2015-08-15
Location
Venice, LA, USA
Airport
NONE
Aircraft
CESSNA 172C
Registration
N1805Y
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to attain a safe landing approach airspeed with a crosswind.

NTSB narrative

The private pilot was conducting a cross-country personal flight. The pilot reported that, while the airplane was on landing approach with 20 degrees of flaps, an indicated airspeed of 60 mph, and a descent rate of 200 ft per minute, he saw a small rain squall 2 miles south of the airstrip, which was producing a light-to-moderate crosswind. Just before the airplane entered ground effect, its airspeed dropped, and the pilot then applied full power; however, the airplane touched down at the approach end of the runway, which was soft and muddy. The nose gear subsequently sank into the soft ground, and the airplane slid to a stop.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Controlled flight into terrain
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have chosen to go around instead of landing on the soggy runway.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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