- Date
- June 1, 2002, 19:40 local (Jun 2, 2002, 01:40 UTC)
- Place
- Navajo Dam, NM
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N364SRCessna 172E
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 1, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20020601010189A
- Case key
- 54841
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's failure maintain directional control of the airplane during a touch and go landing which resulted in a collision with trees. A contributing factor was the gusting wind conditions.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During a touch and go landing, the pilot initiated a slight right turn to avoid striking a bird, and at which time, a wind gust pushed the airplane to the right. The pilot reduced engine power, aborted the takeoff, and the airplane veered off the right side of the runway. Subsequently, the right wing struck a tree, the airplane pivoted around the tree, and then the left wing contacted the ground. The pilot stated the wind was from the west-southwest and gusting.
Factual narrative
On June 1, 2002, approximately 1940 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172E single-engine airplane, N364SR, was substantially damaged after it struck a tree while executing touch and go landings at the Navajo Dam Airport, Navajo State Park, New Mexico. The student pilot, sole occupant and registered owner of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 solo instructional flight. The flight departed the Four Corners Regional Airport, Farmington, New Mexico, at 1838.
According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot stated that he was performing touch and go landings to runway 24. After the second touch and go landing, the pilot increased engine power to depart. The pilot initiated a slight right turn to avoid striking a bird, and at that time, a wind gust pushed the airplane to the right. The pilot reduced engine power, aborted the takeoff, and the airplane veered off the right side of the runway. Subsequently, the right wing struck a tree, the airplane pivoted around the tree, and then the left wing contacted the ground. The outboard 3 feet section of the left wing was structurally damaged. The pilot stated the wind was from the west-southwest and gusting.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N364SR
- Reported as
- Cessna 172E
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17251558
- Airframe hours
- 4,055.7
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A1A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 26, 2001 · 31.6 hours before
- Departed
- FMN · Farmington, NM
- Destination
- 1V0 · Navajo Dam, NM
- Airport
- 1V0 · Navajo State Park, runway 24, 4,995 × 60 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 46
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 256 total · 132 in this make and model · 256 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 15 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 3, 2002, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 460 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N364SR · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.