# Accident 20130317004709A: Cessna 172N, Gila Bend, AZ, March 17, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 17, 2013, 11:40 local time
- Place: Gila Bend, AZ
- Airport: Gila Bend Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: ULDS
- Location: 32.9561° N, 112.6708° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9561&lon=-112.6708&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5802J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5802J-2018-01-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172N (registry code 2072434, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 41 total, 41 in this make and model, 23 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR13CA152](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA152) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130317004709A

## Narrative

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

^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ (PILOT) WAS ON A CROSS COUNTRY SOLO FLIGHT, AS A STUDENT PILOT, WITH A PLANNED ROUTE OF KTUC-E63-P08-KTUC.   HE FILED A FLIGHT PLAN AND RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING AT LMFC FSS PRIOR TO FLIGHT.  WEATHER BRIEFING AND METARS REPORTED CLEAR SKIES, 4 KNOT WINDS AT 240 DEGREES, AND NO PRECIPITATION.

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON RUNWAY 22 AT GILA BEND MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (E63), THE AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE LEFT, STRIKING A TREE APPROXIMATELY 216 FEET LEFT OF RWY CENTERLINE.  AT APPROXIMATELY 485 FEET FROM RWY CENTERLINE, THE LEFT WING TIP STRUCK THE GROUND.  THE AIRCRAFT WENT ANOTHER 65 FEET BEFORE THE PROPELLER HIT THE GROUND.  THE AIRCRAFT SLID AND CAME TO REST 91 FEET FURTHER.

LEFT AND RIGHT WINGS, FORWARD FUSELAGE, ENGINE, AND INSTRUMENT PANEL SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL STRUCTURAL DAMAGE.  APPROXIMATELY FOUR FEET OF THE LEFT WING?S LEADING EDGE, WAS DEFORMED INWARD FROM THE WING TIP.

ADDITIONALLY, MULTIPLE STRIATION WITNESS MARKS MADE TO THE LEFT WING LEADING EDGE AT THE AREA OF THE DEFORMATION, SHOWED WHERE TREE BRANCHES HAD COME IN CONTACT WITH THE WING.

THE TREE WHICH THE AIRCRAFT INITIALLY STRUCK HAD OBVIOUS SIGNS OF DAMAGE.  SOME OF THE TOP LIMBS OF THE TREE (APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 25 FEET HIGH), WERE MISSING AND/OR STRIPPED AWAY.  MULTIPLE BRANCHES FROM THE TREE WERE LITTERED ON THE GROUND.  ONE LARGE LIMB WAS IN EXCESS OF TWO INCHES IN DIAMETER.

THE PILOT WAS INTERVIEWED AND STATED THAT THE WINDS DRIFTED HIM LEFT AS HE WAS LANDING.  HE ATTEMPTED A GO-AROUND WHEN HE CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THE TREE.  HE ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING MECHANICALLY WRONG WITH THE AIRPLANE AND THAT HIS FLIGHT TRAINING FROM THE SCHOOL WAS GOOD.

## 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 WPR13CA152](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA152), Mar 17, 2013: Cessna 172N (N5802J), Gila Bend, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during an attempted go-around.

## Other reports on N5802J (2)

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

- [Incident 20040124000879I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040124000879I), Jan 24, 2004: Cessna 172N (N5802J), Shiprock, NM, Minor damage. (-23) On January 24, 2004, at 1648 MST, a Cessna 172, N5802J, registered to durango air service, incorporated, collided with power lines on takeoff at the…
- [Accident 19830219004619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830219004619A), Feb 19, 1983: Cessna 172N (N5802J), Durango, CO, Substantial damage. Encountered severe gusty crosswind on landing. Struck the snow covered terrain on attempted go around. Nosed over.

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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