N64006

On April 26, 1998, at 1030 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N64006, veered off runway 36 during a crosswind landing and came to rest inverted at the Henderson, Nevada, airport. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot and a passenger, the sole occupants, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed for the personal flight that originated from Falcon Field, Mesa, Arizona, at 0930. A visual flight rules flight plan was filed.

The pilot stated that he contacted the tower, reported his position, and was instructed to report approximately 1 mile out on a right base for runway 36. He stated that the winds were reported to be from 330 degrees at 19 knots gusting to 24 knots. The pilot said that on final approach the tower reported the winds as variable from 330 degrees to 350 degrees at 24 knots gusting to 36 knots.

The pilot reported that the aircraft was setup for a left crosswind landing; left wing low and right rudder input. After touchdown the aircraft veered to the left. The pilot reported that he had applied full right rudder and relaxed the left aileron input to return to centerline. He stated that the left wing suddenly lifted up and the aircraft shot across the right side of the runway. He attempted to go-around, but aborted due to decreased airspeed and location on the runway, then the aircraft struck rocks located off the right side of the runway. The pilot said that his passenger exited the aircraft without assistance, and before he exited the aircraft he shutdown the aircraft's systems. He reported that no mechanical malfunctions existed with the aircraft.

According to Cessna Aircraft, the maximum factory demonstrated crosswind component capability is 15 knots, which was achieved in certification flight testing.