Norfolk International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Norfolk, Virginia 23518
Friday, March 9, 2007 12:55 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot of a Cessna 172R was landing on runway 5, a 9,001-foot-long, 150-foot-wide, asphalt runway. On short final approach, the pilot performed a sideslip to correct for the crosswind. Upon landing, the airplane felt unbalanced and began to veer to the right. The pilot tried to correct with rudder, but the airplane departed the right side of the runway and struck a runway sign. The recorded winds about the time of the accident were from 120 degrees at 8 knots. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing, which resulted in a collision with a runway sign. A factor was the crosswind.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/9/2007
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1255
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Norfolk
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 23518
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 365341N
Event Location Longitude 0761205W
Event Location Airport Norfolk International Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ORF
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1251 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID ORF
Elevation of weather observation facility 26
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 120
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.46
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency --
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 21509
NTSB Notification Source FAA EROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record May 29 2007 12:24PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N441QF
NTSB Number NYC07CA078
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172R
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17280278
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Christiansen Aviation Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Tulsa
Aircraft Owner State OK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Academy of Aviation
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Farmingdale
Operator State NY
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code FRG
Departure City Farmingdale
Departure State NY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code ORF
Destination City Norfolk
Destination State VA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 15 2007 2:15PM
User who most recently changed record MUZD
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 5
Runway Length 9001
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --