# Accident 19971124034909A: Cessna 172M, Mesquite, TX, November 24, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 24, 1997, 12:30 local time
- Place: Mesquite, TX
- Airport: Phil L Hudson Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Go Round (Aborted VFR)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.7290° N, 96.5608° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7290&lon=-96.5608&mi=10
- Aircraft: N80831, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N80831-2013-08-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172M (registry code 2072418, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 350 total, 110 in this make and model, 24 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98LA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA057) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971124034909A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ACFT WAS ATTEMP A GO AROUND DUE TO GUSTY WINDS, WHEN STALLED, STRUCK GROUND AND FLIPPED OVER, MESQUITE, TX. (.4)THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE LANDING FLARE, WHILE PRACTICING A SOFT FIELD LANDING TECHNIQUE ON RUNWAY 17, HE ENCOUNTERED A WIND GUST FROM THE RIGHT WHICH OFFSET THE AIRPLANE TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY'S CENTERLINE. HE STATED THAT HE APPLIED FULL POWER TO ABORT THE LANDING; HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT AND WAS HEADED TOWARDS THE AIRPORT'S WINDSOCK. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MANEUVER TO AVOID THE WINDSOCK, THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER COMING TO REST IN AN INVERTED POSITION. IN A WRITTEN REPORT, THE PILOT STATED THAT 'HE BELIEVED THAT FULL POWER WAS NOT ACHIEVED DESPITE FORWARD THROTTLE POSITION.'  HE ADDED THAT 'HE DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT TIME TO CLOSE THE CARBURETOR HEAT' DURING HIS ATTEMPT TO ABORT THE LANDING. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE WINDS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE FROM 140 DEGREES AT 10 GUSTING TO 15 KNOTS. THE FLIGHT CREW OF A KING AIR THAT LANDED ON THE SAME RUNWAY, WHILE THE CESSNA WAS ON DOWNWIND, REPORTED THAT THEY 'DID NOT SEE OR FEEL ANYTHING UNUSUAL                                           DURING THEIR APPROACH, LANDING OR ROLL OUT.' (-23) PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A PRACTICE, SOFT-FIELD LANDING, ON RWY 17 AT MESQUITE. AIRPLANE DRIFTED TOWARDS THE LEFT SIDE OF RUNWAY DURING LANDING FLAIR, TOWARDS THE WIND-SOCK POLE. PILOT INITIATED GO-AROUND AS AIRCRAFT DRIFTED OVER GRASS AREA ON LEFT SIDE OF RUNWAY AT VERY LOW ALTITUDE. WHILE MANEUVERING TO AVOID POLE, PILOT RETRACTED FLAPS. AT THIS POINT THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT DROPPED AND THE RT. MAIN, FOLLOWED BY NOSEWHEEL CONTACTED THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW98LA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA057), Nov 24, 1997: Cessna 172M (N80831), Mesquite, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and failure to maintain directional control of the airplane, while landing. The gusty crosswind was a related factor.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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