N952AC

Substantial
None

Cessna 172NS/N: 17268001

Accident Details

Date
Sunday, October 29, 2006
NTSB Number
NYC07CA014
Location
Morgantown, WV
Event ID
20061204X01725
Coordinates
39.642776, -79.916389
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control and the flight instructor's improper planning and supervision of the student's solo cross country flight. A contributing factor was the wind gusts.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N952AC
Make
CESSNA
Serial Number
17268001
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1976
Model / ICAO
172NC172
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
FLIGHT SOURCE LLC
Address
30 ROCKY TOP LN
Status
Deregistered
City
MORGANTOWN
State / Zip Code
WV 26508-4841
Country
United States

Analysis

The student pilot departed from his home airport on a solo cross-country flight. He performed a "touch and go" at his first destination. He then proceeded to his second intended destination but, his first approach to the runway was "too high" so he executed a go around. He then attempted to land a second time. Due to "gusting winds," he was unable to land and elected to return to his home airport. Upon arriving at his home airport, he found that the wind was also gusting and his plane "floated" during the flare for landing. He attempted to go around, but the right wing "rose up" abruptly, the plane veered to the left, and struck trees. The student pilot's flight instructor reviewed the wind conditions prior to the student pilot's flight, and completed a logbook endorsement, which included a limitation of a 15-knot maximum headwind and 12-knot maximum crosswind. Winds at the approximate time of departure were forecasted to be gusting to 25 knots. A weather observation made 15 minutes prior to the accident recorded the wind to be varying in direction 70 degrees, and gusting to 23 knots.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# NYC07CA014