# Accident 20050918031429A: Cessna 172S, Show Low, AZ, September 18, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 18, 2005, 10:17 local time
- Place: Show Low, AZ
- Airport: Show Low Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.2756° N, 110.0092° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2756&lon=-110.0092&mi=10
- Aircraft: N121CW, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N121CW) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172S (registry code 2072439, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (registry code 41597, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX05CA302](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05CA302) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050918031429A

## Narrative

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

(-23) AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED A TAIL STRIKE DURING LANDING RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO AFT FUSELAGE AND EMPENNAGE. NEITHER THE PILOT NOR PASSENGERS RECEIVED ANY INJURIES. PRIOR TO LANDING AT SHOW LOW THE PILOT OBTAINED WEATHER INFORMATION FOR TAYLOR AIRPORT, TAYLOR, ARIZONA, LOCATED ABOUT 12 NAUTICAL MILES SOUTHEAST OF SHOW LOW. THE WINDS AT TAYLOR, AX, APPROXIMATELY 12 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SHOW LOW WERE REPORTED FROM 130 DEGREES AT 15 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 18 KNOTS. AFTER AN ATTEMPTED LANDING FOR RUNWAY 03, THE PILOT PERFORMED A GO-AROUND AND ENTERED THE LANDING PATTERN FOR RUNWAY 06. THE WINDSOCK INDICATED FAVORABLE WINDS FOR LANDING RUNWAY 06. FOLLOWING A NORMAL APPROACH TO LAND THE PILOT FLARED THE AIRPLANE, TOUCHING DOWN ON THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR FIRST, AND THEN BOUNCED THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED TO THE NORTH SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND THE TAIL SECTION IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE SETTLED TO THE GROUND MOMENTARILY BEFORE THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO PERFORM THE GO-AROUND AND LAND UNEVENTFULLY ON RUNWAY 24. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT ELEVATOR WAS JAMMED AND THE SKIN AT THE BASE OF THE RUDDER WAS PUNCTURED. IT WAS NOTED DURING THE COURSE OF THE INVESTIGATION THAT CURRENT SECTIONAL AERONAUTICAL CHART FOR PHOENIX DID NOT SHOW AN AWOS FREQUENCY FOR SHOW LOW. THE AIRPORT FACILITY DIRECTORY (AFD), SOUTHWEST, CURRENTLY SHOWS AN AWOS FREQUENCY OF 118.075.

## 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 LAX05CA302](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05CA302), Sep 18, 2005: Cessna 172S (N121CW), Show Low, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's selection of a downwind runway for landing and his inadequate compensation for the strong and gusty quartering tail wind conditions, which resulted in a tail strike during landing.

## Other reports on N121CW (3)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20250730012669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250730012669A), Jul 30, 2025: Cessna 172S (N121CW), Kissimmee, FL, Substantial damage. PIC stated they departed kism at 1523, after a runup with normal indications. Climbed out at 74 KIAS, handed to orl departure to climb to 4000'. At…
- [Accident 20130722015869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130722015869A), Jul 22, 2013: Cessna 172S (N121CW), New Smyrna Beac, FL, Substantial damage. After an initial go-around, student pilot on first-ever solo landing attempt porpoised the aircraft and landed hard on nose landing gear. Aircraft taxied back…
- [Incident 20050310004159I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050310004159I), Mar 10, 2005: Cessna 172S (N121CW), Phoenix, AZ, Minor damage. (-23) Engine quit during idle check in run up area. Induction fire started during restart of engine. Pilot was advised by ground control that "...you had a…

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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