N142ME

On January 8, 2003, at approximately 1245 central standard time, a Cessna 172S airplane, N142ME, registered to a private individual and operated by Aviation Enterprises Inc., of Springfield, Missouri, was substantially damaged following a loss of control upon landing on Runway 18 at the Springdale Municipal Airport (ASG), near Springdale, Arkansas. The solo student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional solo cross country flight. The flight originated at 1145 from the Springfield Municipal Airport, Springfield, Missouri.

The 40-hour student pilot, who had an accumulated 12 hours in the accident aircraft, reported, "I had my wind correction in with the right wing dipped and the left rudder pushed. When I landed, I touched the right wheel down and then the left wheel. As soon as I touched the left wheel down, I caught the break and ran off the left side of the runway." The aircraft veered off the runway into the grass, crossed a parallel taxiway, struck a culvert, and came to rest against a concrete ditch.

The FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, examined the wreckage and reported that the nose gear had buckled the engine firewall.

At the time of the accident, the winds at ASG were reported from 240 degrees at 9 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, clear sky, temperature at 15 degrees Celsius, dewpoint 3 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 29.98 inches Mercury. The density altitude was calculated by the Investigator-In-Charge at 1,617 feet.