# NTSB FTW95TA218: Cessna R172K, N736HU, Albuquerque, NM, May 20, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: May 20, 1995, 15:40 local (21:40 UTC) - Place: Albuquerque, NM - Coordinates: 35.060722, -106.619049 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0607&lon=-106.6190&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19593 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95TA218 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19593/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95TA218 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR CROSSWIND CONDITIONS. FACTORS WERE THE CROSSWIND, THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT NOT ATTAINED, AND THE PILOT NOT ABORTING THE LANDING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - improper, pilot in command (cause) - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - aborted landing - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - high density altitude - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis AFTER ENTERING THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AT CORONADO AIRPORT (4AC), THE PILOT DETERMINED THAT THE WIND WAS STEADY OUT OF THE WEST, AS INDICATED BY THE WIND SOCK. ON FINAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 17, THE FLAPS WERE SET TO 10 DEGREES DUE TO THE CROSSWIND. THE AIRPLANE CROSSED THE THRESHOLD AT 65 KNOTS AND 15 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY. A FLARE WAS INITIATED AND THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO 'FLOAT.' THE PILOT STATED, 'ALTHOUGH I WAS AT IDLE POWER, THE PLANE SEEM[ED] TO PICK UP SPEED AS THOUGH I HAD A TAIL WIND.' DUE TO TREES AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, THE PILOT ELECTED TO CONTINUE WITH THE LANDING. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN APPROXIMATELY 3,270 FEET FROM THE APPROACH END OF THE 4,010 FOOT RUNWAY. THE PILOT APPLIED THE BRAKES 'HARD', AND BOTH MAIN LANDING GEAR TIRES 'BLEW.' THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST 30 FEET BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY IN A DITCH. THE WINDS AT ALBUQUERQUE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, LOCATED 10 NM SOUTH OF CORONADO AIRPORT, WERE REPORTED FROM 320 DEGREES AT 9 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 20. WIND REPORTED TO THE PILOT PRIOR TO LANDING ON UNICOM WERE FROM 250 DEGREES AT 15 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 23. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS 8,200 FEET. ## Factual narrative On May 20, 1995, at 1540 mountain daylight time (MDT), a Cessna R172K, N736HU, was substantially damaged during landing at Coronado Airport (4AC), Albuquerque, New Mexico. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was being operated as a public use flight by the Civil Air Patrol, under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated in Santa Fe, New Mexico, at 1510 MDT. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported the following information in the Pilot/Operator Report. Approximately 10 nautical miles (nm) from Coronado Airport, the pilot was informed by Unicom that the winds were from 250 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 23, and the active runway was 17. After entering the traffic pattern the pilot determined that the wind was steady out of the west, as indicated by the wind sock. On final approach the flaps were set to 10 degrees due to the crosswind. The airplane crossed the threshold at 65 knots and 15 feet above the runway. A flare was initiated and the airplane began to "float." The pilot stated, "although I was at idle power the plane seem to pick up speed as though I had a tail wind." Due to trees at the end of the runway and the high density altitude of "over 8,000 feet", he elected to continue with the landing. A witness reported in a written statement that "the airplane looked like a feather, floating on the thermals off the runway." The witness observed the airplane pass the mid-field and south end wind sock at approximately 15 feet above the ground. After passing the south wind sock the airplane "dropped to the runway like a rock." He then observed the "brakes smoking." A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that the airplane touched down approximately 3,270 feet from the approach end of the 4,010 foot runway. The pilot applied the brakes "hard", and both main landing gear tires "blew." The airplane came to rest 30 feet beyond the departure end of the runway in a ditch. The left wing, fuselage, propeller, and spinner were damaged. At 1452 MDT, the winds at Albuquerque International Airport (ABQ), located 10 nm south of Coronado Airport, were reported from 320 degrees at 9 knots, gusting to 20. Density altitude was calculated to have been 8,200 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: N736HU (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA R172K - Category: Airplane - Serial number: R1722547 - Airframe hours: 2407 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-360-K 195 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91 - Registered owner: Civil Air Patrol, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 28, 1995, 12 hours before - Departed: SAF, SANTA FE, NM - Destination: 4AC - Airport: 4AC, Coronado Airport, runway 17, 4,010 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 307 total, 9 in this make and model, 122 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 9 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 80 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ABQ, 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 19950520013109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950520013109A), May 20, 1995: Cessna R172K, Albuquerque, NM, Substantial damage. Landed last third of runway due to windshift to a tailwind. Blew both mains using brakes. Slid off end into ditch. 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.