N4915D

On July 17, 1995, at 2100 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N4915D, veered off runway 18R while landing at Napa, California, and damaged the wing and firewall during an encounter with soft soil. The aircraft was owned by Bridgeford Flying Service of Napa, and was rented by the pilot for a cross-country personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the operation. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated at Redding, California, about 1945 hours as the return leg of a round robin cross-country flight from Napa to Redding.

In his statement, the pilot reported that after touchdown a gust of wind caused the aircraft to swerve on the runway. He said one foot slipped off the rudder pedal while he was trying to correct the aircraft heading and he lost directional control. The aircraft then veered left off the runway and encountered soft soil, collapsing the nose gear. The firewall and right wing spar suffered damage during the accident. The pilot said he believes that when his foot slipped off the rudder pedal he may have inadvertently "touched one brake, which made the swerve worse."