# NTSB FTW96LA168: Cessna 182Q, N7559S, Silver City, NM, April 10, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 9, 1996, 19:20 local (Apr 10, 1996, 01:20 UTC) - Place: Silver City, NM - Coordinates: 32.779411, -108.260421 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7794&lon=-108.2604&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19802 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA168 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19802/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA168 ## Probable cause the student pilot's failure to maintain directional control. A Factor was the crosswind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll ## Analysis 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. ## Factual narrative 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. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7559S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7559S), registered now, S/N 18265208, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182Q - Registry model: [Cessna 182Q](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182q) (registry code 2072732) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18265208 - Engines: Continental O-470-U 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Kevin M. Thompson - Registered owner: John M. Cornali - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 17, 1995 - Departed: SVC, HURLEY, NM - Destination: 94E - Airport: 94E, Whiskey Creek, runway 35, 5,350 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 14 total, 14 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 260° at 8 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F ## 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 19960409009029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960409009029A), Apr 9, 1996: Cessna 182Q, Silver City, NM, Substantial damage. Left of runway landing in crosswind failed to correct. Landed left edge threshold. Ran off, hit cacti, runway light (-23) the aircraft apparently touched down… 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.