N97224 – Cessna 172P – 2007-05-01 NTSB Accident Report

On May 01, 2007, a Cessna 172P (N97224) was involved in an incident near West Chicago, IL. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The instructor's inadequate remedial action following the student pilot's loss of control during the crosswind landing and the instructor's failure to compensate for the wind conditions. Contributing factors were, the crosswind, the gusting wind conditions and the ditch.

The airplane impacted a ditch following an uncontrolled exit from the runway surface. The student pilot and certified flight instructor were returning from a local area training flight. During the landing to runway 33 (3,401 feet by 100 feet, asphalt), the airplane lifted off after touchdown. The instructor reported that power was increased but the airplane yawed into the left crosswind. The airplane then exited the runway into the grass adjacent to the runway. The instructor stated the main gear dragged in the grass and the nose gear dug into the ground. The airplane then pivoted to the right and the left wingtip impacted and dragged through the grass. The reported wind conditions about the time of the accident were from 280 magnetic degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 21 knots.

This incident is documented in NTSB report CHI07CA128. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N97224.