Summary
On April 03, 1994, a Cessna 172N (N6290D) was involved in an accident near Gasquet, CA. The accident resulted in 1 serious injury, 3 minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR THE CROSS- WIND CONDITIONS, AND TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALIGNMENT WITH THE RUNWAY.
On April 3, 1994, at 1041 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N6290D, was destroyed when it struck some trees during an approach at Gasquet, California. The aircraft was owned and operated by Buchanan Flying Club, Inc., of Concord, California, and was rented by the pilot for a personal cross-country flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. Visual meteorological conditions were prevalent at the time and no flight plan had been filed for the operation. The certificated private pilot and two passengers sustained minor injuries, while the third passenger incurred serious injuries.
This accident is documented in NTSB report LAX94LA176. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N6290D.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR THE CROSS- WIND CONDITIONS, AND TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALIGNMENT WITH THE RUNWAY.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On April 3, 1994, at 1041 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N6290D, was destroyed when it struck some trees during an approach at Gasquet, California. The aircraft was owned and operated by Buchanan Flying Club, Inc., of Concord, California, and was rented by the pilot for a personal cross-country flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. Visual meteorological conditions were prevalent at the time and no flight plan had been filed for the operation. The certificated private pilot and two passengers sustained minor injuries, while the third passenger incurred serious injuries. The flight originated on the day of the mishap at 1000 from Crescent City, California.
In a written statement to Del Norte Sheriff's Deputies, the pilot reported she circled the field to determine the prevailing winds and to select a landing runway. After observing the windsocks, she estimated the wind to be from 060 degrees at 8 knots, which she believed favored runway 06. She then established the aircraft on final approach, planning to land long.
While on final, she extended full flaps and stabilized the airspeed at 60 knots. As the aircraft descended to about 40 feet AGL just past the approach end, a gusting right crosswind caused the aircraft to drift off the final approach path. The pilot said she attempted to correct her direction of flight and applied full power. She said that, due to her reduced airspeed and full flap configuration, she was unable to establish a positive rate of climb in time to avoid some 30 to 40 foot trees about 30 yards off the left side of the runway. As a result, the left wing of the aircraft struck a tree, causing the aircraft to yaw and fall through the trees to the ground.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# LAX94LA176