Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
Aviation Accident Data Summary - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
http://registry.faa.gov/N985GE
Location: Roanoke, TX
Accident Number: CEN13LA041
Date & Time: 11/03/2012, 1040 CDT
Registration: N985GE
Aircraft: CESSNA 172S
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Miscellaneous/other
Injuries: 2 Minor, 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Instructional
Analysis
The student pilot was returning from a solo cross-country flight at the time of the accident. He stated that the approach for landing was normal until he was on short final approach, when the airplane's landing gear struck an automobile that was being driven on a road that crossed near the approach end of the runway. The airplane subsequently landed hard and the nose and left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane veered off the right side of the runway before coming to rest in the grass. The student pilot stated that there were no malfunctions or failures with the airplane before it impacted the vehicle. The automobile driver reported that he had been to the airport before and was aware of the proximity of the road to the runway, describing the layout as "precarious." He noted that he did not see or hear the approaching airplane traffic before the accident. He said he was about halfway across the road, immediately north of the runway, when he first heard the airplane engine; the airplane impacted his car immediately afterward.
The displaced threshold for the landing runway was located about 140 feet from the approach end of the runway. The roadway that crossed the extended runway centerline was located about 25 feet from the approach end of the runway pavement, about 165 feet from the displaced threshold. Data indicated that the runway threshold was previously displaced 400 feet. Although the privately-owned airport was not required to maintain airport design standards established by the Federal Aviation Administration, the proximity of the roadway and the reduced runway threshold displacement did not provide any safety margin for approaching aircraft.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The student pilot's failure to maintain clearance from obstacles on the runway approach path. Contributing to the accident was the airport management's decision to relocate the runway displaced threshold, which did not provide an adequate safety margin for approaching aircraft, and the automobile driver's inadequate lookout for approaching aircraft before crossing the runway's approach path.
Findings
Aircraft
Descent/approach/glide path - Not attained/maintained (Cause)
Personnel issues
Incorrect action performance - Student pilot (Cause)
Environmental issues
Ground vehicle - Effect on operation (Factor)
Airport facilities/design - Effect on operation (Factor)
Factual Information
On November 3, 2012, about 1040 central daylight time, a Cessna 172S, N985GE, impacted an automobile on final approach to runway 17 (3,500 feet by 40 feet, asphalt) at the Northwest Regional Airport (52F), Roanoke, Texas. The student pilot was not injured. The automobile driver and passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The aircraft was registered to and operated by Marcair, Inc. under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a solo instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was operated on a visual flight rules flight plan. The cross-country flight originated from Possum Kingdom Airport (F35), Graford, Texas, about 1005, with an intended destination of 52F.
The student pilot reported that he was returning from a solo cross-country flight, entered a left traffic pattern for runway 17 at 52F. He recalled that the approach was normal and the airspeed was about 60 knots when crossing the fence near the end of the runway. He stated that just after crossing the fence the landing gear impacted an automobile, which resulted in a hard landing. The nose and left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane veered off the right side of the runway before coming to rest in the grass. The student pilot stated that there were no malfunctions or failures associated with the airplane before impacting the automobile.
The driver of the automobile reported that he had been to the airport before and was aware of the proximity of the road to the runway, describing the layout as "precarious." He noted that he did not see or hear the approaching airplane traffic prior to the accident; although, he had rolled the car windows down and turned off the radio to assist in hearing any airplane traffic. He stated that the vehicle was about halfway across the road immediately north of the runway when he first heard the airplane engine. The airplane impacted his car immediately afterward. He noted that the airplane impacted his car about 4-1/2 feet above the road.
The accident airport consisted of a single north-south oriented runway, designated 17 / 35. The published runway dimensions at the time of the accident were 3,500 feet by 40 feet. Although the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Facility Directory (AFD) current at the time of the accident noted a 400-foot displaced threshold for runway 17, the runway threshold was actually displaced approximately 140 feet at the time of the accident. Satellite imagery indicated that the runway threshold markings were changed sometime between June 12, 2011, and the date of the accident. The edge of the roadway crossing the runway 17 approach path was located about 25 feet from the end of the runway; about 165 feet from the displaced threshold. The roadway was marked with a faded "Stop" indication painted on the pavement at each side of the runway. However, there were no signs requiring drivers to stop or advising them of low flying aircraft. Because the accident airport was privately owned, the airport management was under no obligation to maintain the airport to any federal standard.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airport design guidance (Advisory Circular 150/5300-13A) noted a standard approach slope of 20:1, or about 3 degrees. Guidance related to Visual Approach Slope Indicators (VASI), contained in Chapter 2 of the FAA Aeronautical Information Manual, noted that a standard runway glide path angle is 3 degrees; however, the glide path angle may be up to 4.5 degrees if necessary for obstacle clearance. The calculated glide path height above the roadway, considering a 165-foot distance between the displaced runway threshold and the edge of the roadway, would be 8.6 feet and 13.0 feet for a 3-degree and a 4.5 degree glide path, respectively. This does not take into account any difference in the elevation of the roadway relative to the runway, nor does it include any safety margin for momentary inadvertent operations slightly below the glidepath.
History of Flight
Approach-VFR pattern final
Miscellaneous/other (Defining event)
Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
Loss of control in flight
Student Pilot Information
Certificate: Student
Age: 43, Male
Airplane Rating(s): None
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Seatbelt, Shoulder harness
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 02/10/2012
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 08/10/2012
Flight Time: 45 hours (Total, all aircraft), 45 hours (Total, this make and model), 3 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 20 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 10 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Registration: N985GE
Model/Series: 172S
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture:
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 172S10045
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 09/12/2012, 100 Hour
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2558 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 89 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 4798 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: LYCOMING
ELT: Installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: IO-360-L2A
Registered Owner: Marcair Inc.
Rated Power: 180 hp
Operator: Marcair Inc.
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: AFW, 722 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 7 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1053 CDT
Direction from Accident Site: 225°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 9000 ft agl
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 3 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: /
Wind Direction: Variable
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 30.07 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 23°C / 16°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Graford, TX (F35)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: VFR
Destination: Roanoke, TX (52F)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1005 CST
Type of Airspace:
Airport Information
Airport: Northwest Regional (52F)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 643 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 17
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 3500 ft / 40 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Full Stop; Traffic Pattern
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: 2 Minor
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Minor, 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 33.049722, -97.232222 (est)
ROANOKE — The Federal Aviation
Administration is investigating after a sport utility vehicle had a hole
punched in its roof by a small plane Saturday morning.
No one was seriously hurt.
The accident happened at Northwest Regional Airport in Roanoke, which is linked to three other incidents in the past six weeks, including two fatal crashes that killed a total of six people.
Department of Public Safety spokesman Trooper Lonny Haschel said the 2005 Cessna Skyhawk was coming in for a landing when its landing gear struck a 2008 Volvo SUV that was traveling on an perimeter road at the airport around 10:50 a.m.
The plane skidded off the runway and into a grassy area about 75 yards from the point of impact. Pilot William Davis of Flower Mound was not hurt, but the aircraft was damaged.
The occupants of the SUV, Frank and Heather Laudo of Flower Mound, were taken to a hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries, Haschel said.
Four people died on October 7 when their plane crashed in Van Zandt County after taking off from Northwest Regional Airport.
On September 11, two people were killed after their small plane crashed in a wooded area shortly after takeoff from Northwest Regional Airport.
And on October 11, a small plane landed upside-down after its engine cut out shortly after takeoff. The pilot was able to walk away.
"We couldn't see anything at all, and then... all of a sudden... equipment was falling into the car," Heather said.
The pilot, William Davis had asked his wife Kandy to shoot home video of his first solo round-trip. William said the video shows the couple driving into plane.
"I was shocked," he said. "Just from the video that I saw, it looks like they kept going... they didn't stop at the stop sign."
But here's what the video doesn't show: The word STOP is actually painted on the pavement, more than 50 feet from the north end of the runway. The angle of the recording does not show where the Laudos' SUV would have stopped.
Airport management said drivers are supposed to stop when the runway is active. But moments before the Laudos' vehicle crossed the path of Davis' plane, his wife's recording shows a white vehicle taking the same path.
The Laudos said they never saw the plane, even though it was feet away, preparing to land at 65 mph.
In the aftermath of the crash, airport manager Glen Hyde can be heard on Kandy Davis' recording yelling, "Is anybody hurt?"
Hyde grabbed his first aid kit and ran to the Laudos' vehicle. He immediately asked them whether they saw the stop sign... or the approaching plane.
"Whatever that is, it fell. Whatever that it is it hit our car," they said.
"That is the landing gear," Hyde responded. "You got hit by a plane."
"I know that!" Heather Laudo said in the recording.
"Why did you pull out if front of an airplane, is what I wanna know?" Hyde asked.
"We didn't see it," Frank Laudo said.
"We didn't pull out in front of an airplane," Heather Laudo added.
"Yes, you did!" Kandy Davis said.
William Davis said he is grateful everyone survived, but after the incident, he has decided to give up flying, saying it was all too traumatic — even though he was just four weeks away from receiving his pilot's license.
"Things like that make you reconsider what is important and what could have happened," Davis said. "I have a young daughter and a wife, and they need me to be there to take care of them."
Northwest Regional Airport has tried to purchase the property where the private roadway exists to enforce safety measures, but say the owner has declined the offer.
Glen Hyde has asked the FAA to step in and help work out a plan with the owner to place flashing lights and more visible stop signs.
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