FTW96LA168

The student pilot allowed the aircraft to touch down on the left apron of runway 35. During the roll out, the aircraft continued to veer left contacting a runway light with the right main landing gear while departing the runway hard surface. The left main landing gear contacted several cactus sheering the left main wheel at the lower strut. The student pilot reported that there was a crosswind from the east at less than 10 knots. The pilot stated that he recognized that he could have easily avoided this accident if he had made a timely correction and applied hard right rudder.

On April 9, 1996, about 1920 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 182Q, N7559S, registered to and operated by a private owner as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 supervised solo flight, crashed on landing roll at Whiskey Creek Airport, Silver City, New Mexico. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The student pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Whiskey Creek Airport at 1815, and was returning from Grant County Airport, in Hurley, New Mexico.

During an interview with the FAA inspector, the student pilot reported that he had made several practice landings at the Grant County Airport. After departing Grant County Airport, he proceeded toward Whiskey Creek Airport and planned to land north. The student pilot further reported that there was a slight crosswind from the east at less than 10 knots. However, he "did not feel that the winds were a factor." The student pilot also reported that during final approach, he realized that his heading was slightly off center and left of the runway centerline. The aircraft initially touched down near the left runway apron on runway 35. The aircraft continued without correction at an angle to the runway, and departed the hard surface to the left. The pilot told the FAA inspector that he recognized that he could have easily avoided this accident if he had made a timely correction and applied hard right rudder. (See the enclosed inspector's statement.)

An examination of the accident site by the FAA inspector revealed that the aircraft contacted a runway light with the right main landing gear while departing the runway's hard surface. The left main landing gear "apparently contacted several cactus sheering the left main wheel at the lower strut." There was additional damage to the main landing gear strut at the fuselage attaching point. The left horizontal stabilizer and elevator were also damaged.