Summary
On April 22, 2009, a Cessna 172E (N3880S) was involved in an incident near Tucson, AZ. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot’s inadequate compensation for the gusting crosswinds.
Just prior to rotation speed during takeoff, the airplane veered sharply to the left, departed the runway, and encountered soft sand. The reported weather around the time of the accident showed that the 80-degree left crosswind was at 9 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or system failure with the airplane prior to the accident.
This incident is documented in NTSB report WPR09CA210. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N3880S.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot’s inadequate compensation for the gusting crosswinds.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
Just prior to rotation speed during takeoff, the airplane veered sharply to the left, departed the runway, and encountered soft sand. The reported weather around the time of the accident showed that the 80-degree left crosswind was at 9 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or system failure with the airplane prior to the accident.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR09CA210