Summary
On April 03, 2011, a Cessna 172N (N3484E) was involved in an incident near Colorado Springs, CO. 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 pilot loss of directional control during landing in gusty crosswind conditions.
As the pilot returned to the local airport, the airport tower controller informed him of a storm cell approaching the airfield, issued a clearance to land, and reported winds from 70 degrees left of runway heading at 25 knots gusting to 34 knots. The pilot estimated the winds at 18 knots of crosswind, and landed using 40 degrees of flaps. While on landing roll, the airplane experienced a shift in winds to a tailwind at which time the airplane began to drift to the right side of the 150-foot wide runway. The pilot attempted to go-around, but could not regain control of the airplane. He then elected to abort the go-around and attempted to bring the airplane to a stop. The airplane departed the right side of the runway and continued into a field.
This incident is documented in NTSB report CEN11CA261. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N3484E.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot loss of directional control during landing in gusty crosswind conditions.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
As the pilot returned to the local airport, the airport tower controller informed him of a storm cell approaching the airfield, issued a clearance to land, and reported winds from 70 degrees left of runway heading at 25 knots gusting to 34 knots. The pilot estimated the winds at 18 knots of crosswind, and landed using 40 degrees of flaps. While on landing roll, the airplane experienced a shift in winds to a tailwind at which time the airplane began to drift to the right side of the 150-foot wide runway. The pilot attempted to go-around, but could not regain control of the airplane. He then elected to abort the go-around and attempted to bring the airplane to a stop. The airplane departed the right side of the runway and continued into a field. The airplane encountered uneven terrain and the airplane nosed over. Substantial damage was sustained to the airplane's wings and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported no preimpact malfunctions with the airplane. A review of Air Traffic Control transmissions revealed the pilot was aware of alerts for low-level windshear and microbursts during the his local flight. The airplane's pilot operating handbook directs pilots to utilize the minimum flap setting required for field length while operating in strong crosswinds. In addition, the handbook does not state a maximum allowable crosswind velocity, but states that average pilot technique should be able to handle 15 knots of crosswind. Winds at the times of the pilot's landing were between 23 knots and 32 knots of crosswind.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN11CA261