N364GW

Substantial
None

Cessna 172S/N: 172S9364

Accident Details

Date
Friday, September 28, 2007
NTSB Number
DFW07CA210
Location
McKinney, TX
Event ID
20071126X01839
Coordinates
33.177776, -96.590553
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 compensate for existing conditions while landing. A contributing factor was the prevailing crosswind.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
CESSNA
Serial Number
172S9364
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
2003
Model / ICAO
172C172
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1
Seats
4
FAA Model
172S

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
HDH AIRCRAFT LEASING LLC
Address
2101 LAVACA TRL
City
CARROLLTON
State / Zip Code
TX 75010-4131
Country
United States

Analysis

Prior to the 40-hour student pilot's first solo flight, the flight instructor supervised four touch-and-go landings. The flight instructor received a report from the control tower of winds 40 degrees left of runway heading at 7 knots. The flight instructor then approved the student pilot's solo flight requiring three full-stop taxi-back landings. The student pilot performed a touch-and-go landing and entered the traffic pattern. During the second landing on Runway 17, the airplane was observed by tower personnel to bounce, porpoise, contact the runway with the propeller, and finally depart the runway at approximately midfield. In a statement to the NTSB, the student pilot appeared confused as why the airplane had a left turning tendency during takeoff and drift throughout the pattern. On final approach, the student pilot reported making an aileron input for the crosswind. The student pilot struggled to maintain control of the aircraft before departing the 100-foot wide runway and coming to rest in the grass. The flight instructor was not able to witness either student landing but reported that the earliest landings were "good." An inspection of the aircraft revealed structural damage to the aircraft's firewall. No mechanical malfunction or failure was reported. At the time of the accident the tower reported winds from 50 degrees left of runway heading at 8 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# DFW07CA210