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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

May 18, 2006 · Cessna 172S · N3544Z

Madera, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 18, 2006
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Madera, CA
Aircraft
Cessna 172S
Tail Number
N3544Z
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX06CA174

During the landing roll out, the airplane veered off the left side of the runway and impacted a runway marker sign. The purpose of the flight was to practice takeoffs and landings. During the first landing, the student pilot noticed that the wind seemed to be pushing the airplane to the right, but he executed the landing without incident. On the second landing, the airplane touched down just past the runway numbers, and he pulled the power back to idle. The pilot said that the airplane veered to the left of the runway centerline and was headed toward the left runway edge. He attempted to correct with slight right rudder, and did not use full right rudder input to return the airplane to the runway because he felt that full right rudder input would cause the airplane to flip over. He allowed the airplane to continue off the runway and applied the brakes. The airplane's left wing strut hit a runway marker sign and the airplane came to a stop beside the runway. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. Reported wind conditions at the time of the accident were from 150 degrees at 5 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout.

Full Narrative

On May 18, 2006, about 0935 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172S, N3544Z, veered off the runway during the landing roll out and collided with an airport sign at Madera Municipal Airport, Madera, California. The owner /operator was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The instructional flight departed Madera about 0930, with a planned destination of Fresno, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The student pilot submitted a written report. Prior to departure, he called the Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) in Madera. He recalled the reported winds to be from 130 degrees at 4 knots. He departed Fresno Yosemite International Airport about 0930 and flew to Madera Municipal Airport to practice takeoffs and landings. He planned to do three to four landings in Madera and then return to Fresno. He noted that other airplanes at Madera were using runway 30. He flew southwest of the airport and entered the traffic pattern at 45 degrees to the left downwind for runway 30. During his first landing, he noticed that the wind seemed to be pushing him to the right, but he executed the landing without incident. He came to a full stop, taxied off the runway onto taxiway Charlie, and taxied back to the approach end of runway 30. He took off from runway 30, and flew a normal traffic pattern. On the pilot's second landing, the airplane touched down just past the runway numbers, and he pulled the power back to idle. The pilot said that after touchdown the airplane veered to the left of the runway centerline. He attempted to correct with slight right rudder input. He believed that if he input full right rudder to compensate for direction of travel, the airplane would flip over. He decided to allow the airplane to continue in its current direction of travel, to the left of the runway centerline, and applied brake pressure. The airplane's left wing strut hit a runway marker sign, and the airplane came to a stop beside the runway. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. The wind conditions at Madera at 0953 were from 150 degrees at 5 knots.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:35 PDT
Nearest AirportMadera Municipal (0nm)
Runway30
Runway Length5544 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172S
Tail NumberN3544Z
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-L2A · Reciprocating · 180

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 58 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind150° @ 5 kt
Visibility8 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F
Altimeter29.87 inHg
Observation Time16:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data