# NTSB FTW95LA166: Cessna 172P, N55409, Mountain Home, AR, April 12, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 12, 1995, 14:10 local (19:10 UTC) - Place: Mountain Home, AR - Coordinates: 36.330799, -92.370552 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3308&lon=-92.3706&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 19, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19391 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA166 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19391/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA166 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE GUSTY CROSSWIND. A FACTOR WAS GUSTING CROSSWINDS. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown - object - fence - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis WINDS WERE REPORTED FROM 270 DEGREES AT 15 KNOTS GUSTING TO 26 KNOTS. DURING THE FLARE/TOUCHDOWN ON RUNWAY 23 THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED GUSTY WINDS, DEPARTED THE RUNWAY, AND STRUCK A FENCE. STRUCTURAL DAMAGE OCCURRED TO THE WINGS AND EMPENNAGE. ## Factual narrative On April 12, 1995, at 1410 central daylight time, a Cessna 172P, N55409, collided with a fence during landing near Mountain Home, Arkansas. The private pilot was not injured, the pilot rated passenger received minor injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal cross country flight was operated by the Stick and Rudder Flying Club under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated in Monroe, Louisiana, at 1155, with prevailing visual meteorological conditions and a flight plan was not filed. The pilot reported that prior to the landing, the automated weather observation service (AWOS) reported the winds from 270 degrees at 15 knots with gust to 26 knots. The pilot further stated that during touchdown on runway 23, the airplane encountered a wind gust, subsequently departing the runway and striking a fence. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported the airplane came to rest approximately 400 feet to the left of runway 23. Structural damage occurred to the wings and empennage. Wind at the nearest observation facility, 10 miles south-southeast, was from 260 degrees at 17 knots gusting to 26. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N55409](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N55409), registered now, S/N 17275176 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17275176 - Airframe hours: 6516 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Stick & Rudder Club, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 24, 1995, 34 hours before - Departed: MLU, MONROE, LA - Destination: BPK - Airport: BPK, Baxter County Regional, runway 23, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 447 total, 340 in this make and model, 427 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 17 knots, gusting 26 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: FLP, 10 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 19950412007559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950412007559A), Apr 12, 1995: Cessna 172P, Mountain Home, AR, Substantial damage. Departed runway landing in gusty winds. Struck a fence. Damaged wings and tail. Windy for this type. ## Other investigations on N55409 (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 CHI91LA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI91LA054), Jan 1, 1991: Cessna 172P (N55409), New Holstein, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S DECISION TO CONTINUE THE LANDING APPROACH, LANDING ON AN ICE COVERED RUNWAY AND THE INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE CROSWIND. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.