Summary
On August 15, 2018, a Cessna 172 (N1543Y) was involved in an accident near Silver City, NM. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing with a quartering tailwind.
The student pilot reported to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that, during a solo cross-country flight, while landing in a gusting crosswind, the airplane drifted off the runway to the left, and spun 180°. The nose landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing.
The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 5 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 140° at 10 knots. The airplane landed on runway 26.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator in charge repeatedly attempted to contact the student pilot via telephone and email regarding this accident, to no avail.
This accident is documented in NTSB report GAA18CA493. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N1543Y.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing with a quartering tailwind.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
The student pilot reported to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that, during a solo cross-country flight, while landing in a gusting crosswind, the airplane drifted off the runway to the left, and spun 180°. The nose landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing.
The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 5 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 140° at 10 knots. The airplane landed on runway 26.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator in charge repeatedly attempted to contact the student pilot via telephone and email regarding this accident, to no avail. The student pilot did not submit the NTSB Form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA18CA493