On December 29, 2004, a Cessna 172P (registration N118FR) operated by Hi-tech Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Houston, TX. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. A contributing factor was the muddy condition of the terrain. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A fixed-wing private pilot with 189 hours landed with flaps and experienced veering while braking, leading to a runway excursion and the aircraft flipping inverted.
Landing and Braking Incident
A fixed-wing private pilot with 189 hours of flight time completed an uneventful landing with ten degrees of flaps deployed. As the pilot began to apply the brakes, the airplane unexpectedly veered to the left. The pilot attempted to correct the deviation, causing the airplane to veer to the right and then back to the left again.
Runway Excursion and Nose-Over
During the sequence of veering, the left main landing gear departed the runway surface and entered muddy terrain adjacent to the runway. The soft ground caused the left main gear to sink, resulting in the airplane nosing into the ground. The aircraft subsequently flipped over and came to rest in an inverted position.
What happened in the 29 Dec 2004 Cessna 172P accident near Houston, TX?
A fixed-wing private pilot with 189 hours landed with flaps and experienced veering while braking, leading to a runway excursion and the aircraft flipping inverted.
Were there any fatalities in the 29 Dec 2004 Cessna 172P accident?
No fatalities were recorded in this accident.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 29 Dec 2004 involved a Cessna 172P, registration N118FR, operated by Hi-tech Aviation, at Houston, TX.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. A contributing factor was the muddy condition of the terrain.
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