N53460

Substantial
None

CESSNA 172SS/N: 172S9351

Accident Details

Date
Sunday, March 4, 2012
NTSB Number
ERA12CA209
Location
Lafayette, TN
Event ID
20120306X91216
Coordinates
36.520000, -86.058052
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot’s inadequate compensation for gusting crosswind conditions during landing, which resulted in a hard landing.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
CESSNA
Serial Number
172S9351
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
2003
Model / ICAO
172SC172
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1
Seats
4
FAA Model
172S

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
L & W LEASING LLC
Address
503 TARVER CT
City
SMYRNA
State / Zip Code
TN 37167-4422
Country
United States

Analysis

The pilot stated he was conducting touch and go landings. The surface winds, located 31 miles from the accident site were 270 degrees at 9 knots gusting to 20 knots. The pilot made an approach to runway 01. He estimated the winds at “270 degrees, at 13 miles gusting to 25 miles”. As the main landing gear touched down, a gust of wind lifted the airplane back into the air, about 8 feet above ground level. The airplane collided hard with the runway on the nose and main landing gear before the pilot could add power. The pilot returned to his departure airport without further incident. Examination of the airplane revealed it had sustained damage to the propeller and engine firewall. The pilot reported no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA12CA209