# Accident 20030311002899A: Cessna 172R, Thermal, CA, March 11, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 11, 2003, 11:15 local time
- Place: Thermal, CA
- Airport: Thermal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.6167° N, 116.1500° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6167&lon=-116.1500&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4201Y, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4201Y-2005-05-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172R (registry code 2072401, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172R
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 25 total, 25 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX03LA112](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA112) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030311002899A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE LOW TIME, STUDENT PILOT WAS ON A SUPERVISED SOLO FLIGHT FROM PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO DESERT RESORTS REGIONAL, AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED A WEATHER OBSERVATION FROM THE ASOS FACILITY AT DESERT RESORTS AND THE WINDS WERE REPORTED AS LIGHT FROM 080. THESE WINDS FAVORED RUNWAY 12, BUT THE STUDENT SAW A SMALL JET TAKING OFF FROM RUNWAY 35 AND ASSUMED THAT RUNWAY 35 WAS THE ACTIVE RUNWAY. RUNWAY 12-30 IS MOSTLY UTILIZED BY GLIDER TRAFFIC AND MOST AIRCRAFT USE RUNWAY 35-17 TO AVOID THE GLIDER TRAFFIC. UPON LANDING, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED WIND GUSTS FROM APPROXIMATELY 080 DEGREES, LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND DEPARTED THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT DUG INTO THE DIRT AND FLIPPED OVER ON IT'S BACK. THE FLIGHT SCHOOL OWNER/CHIEF INSTRUCTOR ARRIVED SOON AFTER THE MISHAP AND NOTICED THAT THERE WERE STRONG WIND GUSTS ACROSS RUNWAY 35. THE FLIGHT SCHOOL HAS STUDENT WEATHER RESTRICTIONS OF 5000 FOOT CEILINGS AND NO MORE THAN 7 KNOTS CROSS WIND COMPONENTS. THE SCHOOL REQUIRES STUDENTS TO OBTAIN A COMMERCIAL WEATHER BRIEF AND TO VERIFY THAT THE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE WITHIN SCHOOL SET LIMITS. ACCORDING TO THE STUDENT PILOT, THE ASOS DID NOT TRANSMIT A GUST SPREAD. (.19) ON MARCH 11, 2003, AT 1115 PACIFIC STANDARD TIME, A CESSNA 172R, N4201Y, VEERED OFF OF RUNWAY 35 AND CAME TO REST INVERTED AT THE PALM DESERT REGIONAL AIRPORT (TRM), THERMAL, CALIFORNIA. THE FLIGHT SCHOOL AT PALM SPRINGS OPERATED THE AIRPLANE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE STUDENT PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE LOCAL AREA INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED THE PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AT AN UNDETERMINED TIME. THE FLIGHT WAS SCHEDULED TO TERMINATE AT PSP. ACCORDING TO A METAR REPORT TAKEN AT 1054 AT TRM, THE WIND WAS FROM 120 DEGREES AT 6 KNOTS. ACCORDING TO THE STUDENT, HE LANDED WITH A CROSSWIND. ON THE LANDING ROLLOUT A GUST OF WIND CAUGHT THE RIGHT WING AND THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY. THE NOSE LANDING GEAR DUG INTO THE SOFT SAND AND THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST INVERTED. THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED WITH THE AIRPLANE.

## 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 LAX03LA112](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA112), Mar 11, 2003: Cessna 172R (N4201Y), Thermal, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the student pilot's failure to use aileron controls to compensate for the known crosswind and failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout.

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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