Pilot Debrief

Cessna 172 near Scottsdale, AZ — 2019-03-02

Final reportGAA19CA162
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Date
2019-03-02
Location
Scottsdale, AZ, USA
Airport
SDL
Aircraft
Cessna 172
Registration
N9404F
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain the runway heading during a go-around with a crosswind, which resulted in the left main landing gear impacting a runway sign.

NTSB narrative

The solo student pilot reported that, during the landing roll of a touch-and-go landing, the airplane began to veer off the runway, so he added power for a go-around. During the go-around, he saw that the left main landing (MLG) gear strut was bent and that the tire was "missing." He told the tower controller that he must have hit something and was instructed to fly by the tower. After the flyby, the tower controller confirmed that the left MLG was damaged and cleared the student to land. During the landing roll, the airplane skidded off the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer and left elevator. The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about 7 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 320° at 8 knots. The student was landing the airplane on runway 21. Examination of security videos revealed that, during the go-around, the airplane drifted left and that the left MLG struck a runway sign.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have avoided the runway sign during the first landing.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Video
  • Photos
  • 5 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents5

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