Cessna 172N N81HT

Summary

On 22 November 2006 at about 21:45 local time, a Cessna 172N registered N81HT, operated by Hi-tech Aviation Inc., was involved in an accident near Spring, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 November 2006 at 21:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Spring, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

David Wayne Hooks Memorial Air (KDWH)

Coordinates

30.0619, -95.5528

Aircraft

Cessna 172N

Registration

N81HT

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Hi-tech Aviation Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lufkin → Spring

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DFW07CA028

Nobody was injured.

Loss of directional control for undetermined reasons.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The 185-hour private pilot lost directional control of the fixed wing airplane while landing on runway 17R (a dry 7,009-foot-long by 100-foot-wide asphalt runway). The pilot stated in the accident report form (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that after he was cleared by air traffic control for a straight-in-approach, he executed a normal approach for landing. However, when the nose was lowered, the airplane "abruptly turned to right (immediately) and went off runway 17R, in spite of left rudder the airplane continued to go right." Several witnesses reported observing the airplane bounce once before it abruptly veered to the right of the runway. Another witness reported that the airplane made a normal landing, but suddenly veered to the right when the nose wheel contacted the ground. The airplane came to rest on "soft earth" on the right side of runway 17R. The pilot and the passenger egressed the cockpit normally through the cabin doors and were not injured. The pilot added that "he suspected that the nose wheel was stuck in the right position prior to the airplane touchdown." An FAA inspector examined the airplane at the site and reported the nose wheel and engine firewall were damaged; however, he could not determine if the damage was a result of the accident or from a preexisting deficiency. In addition, the inspector stated there were no mechanical deficiencies with the wheel brakes. Weather reported at the airport included wind from 240 degrees at 4 knots, clear skies, and 10 miles visibility. The reason for the loss of the directional control could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.