# NTSB DEN04LA114: Cessna 172N, N5426J, Hurricane, UT, July 31, 2004

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 31, 2004, 14:40 local (20:40 UTC)
- Place: Hurricane, UT
- Coordinates: 37.133609, -113.300552
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1336&lon=-113.3006&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 3, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 59821
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN04LA114
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59821/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04LA114

## Probable cause

the student pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the landing. Contributing factors include the crosswind, the wind gusts, and the exceeded maximum demonstrated crosswind component.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - aircraft control - not maintained, dual student (cause)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - crosswind component - exceeded, dual student (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The student pilot said he landed "too fast", "lost control and veered off to the west" side of the runway, substantially damaging the airplane. A post accident examination of the airplane systems revealed no anomalies. The winds were reported as a direct crosswind at 18 knots with gusts to 25 knots. The crosswind component was calculated between 19 and 25 knots. According to the manufacturer's handbook, the maximum demonstrated crosswind component for this airplane is 15 knots.

## Factual narrative

On July 31, 2004, at approximately 1440 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N5426J, piloted by a student pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain after departing the runway during landing at Hurricane Airport, Hurricane, Utah. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The solo training flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The student pilot reported no injuries. The local flight originated at 1300.

According to the accident report submitted by the student pilot, he was landing on runway 18 "too fast." The pilot wrote that he "lost control and veered off to the west" side of the runway. The right main landing gear was bent, the left wing tip and wing spar were bent up and the firewall was wrinkled. A postaccident examination of the airplane systems revealed no anomalies.

The winds at St. George Municipal Airport, 14 nautical miles west of Hurricane, were reported as 260 degrees at 18 knots with gusts to 25 knots. The calculated crosswind component was between 19 and 25 knots. According to the Cessna Pilot Operating Handbook, the maximum demonstrated crosswind component for this airplane is 15 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5426J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5426J), registered now, S/N 17273789 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 5426J
- Airframe hours: 12723.6
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2HD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, June 26, 2004, 55.2 hours before
- Departed: 1L8, Hurricane, UT
- Destination: 1L8
- Airport: 1L8, Hurricane, runway 18, 3,410 × 40 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 41; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 61 total, 61 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 18 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 102 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observed at: SGU, 14 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20040731016139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040731016139A), Jul 31, 2004: Cessna 172N, Hurricane, UT, Substantial damage. (-23) The student pilot was going to do touch and go operations. After his first take-off on downwind he stated he retarded the throttle but the engine RPM did…

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.

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