# NTSB FTW99LA035: Cessna 172P, N54959, Fayetteville, AR, November 22, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 22, 1998, 14:10 local (20:10 UTC) - Place: Fayetteville, AR - Location: 36.0051° N, 94.1701° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at DRAKE FLD (FYV), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0051&lon=-94.1701&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45361 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW99LA035 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45361/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA035 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions resulting in a loss of directional control. A factor was the shifting and gusty wind conditions. ## 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 - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - sudden windshift (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown - object - airport sign/marker - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot lost control of the aircraft during landing flare while landing on runway 16. The pilot stated that the wind had 'shifted and gusted,' pushing the airplane to the left side of the runway just prior to touch down. He added that he did not have enough time to react prior to impacting a taxiway marker and taxiway light. The winds at the time of the accident were reported from 190 degrees at 16 knots. ## Factual narrative On November 22, 1998, at 1410 central standard time, a Cessna 172P airplane, N54959, was substantially damaged during landing at the Fayetteville Municipal Airport near Fayetteville, Arkansas. The non-instrument rated private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by Robertson Aviation of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight which originated from the Richard Lloyd Jones Jr. Airport near Tulsa, Oklahoma, at 1315. During a telephone interview conducted by the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the 134 hour pilot stated that while landing on runway 16, "the wind shifted and gusted, pushing the airplane to the left side of the runway." According to the pilot, he was unable to react quick enough with rudder or power and impacted a taxiway marker and taxiway light. At 1353, the wind at the Fayetteville Municipal Airport was reported from 190 degrees at 16 knots. Weather reports at the time of the accident did not reveal any gusts. Examination of the airplane, by the FAA inspector, revealed that the left main landing gear was collapsed, the empenage was bent, and the horizontal stabilizer main spars were bent. ## Aircraft - Registration: N54959 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172P - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17275091 - Airframe hours: 4224 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Robertson Aviation - Registered owner: Deanna D. Robertson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 15, 1998, 36 hours before - Departed: RUS, TULSA, OK - Destination: FYV - Airport: FYV, Drake Field, runway 16, 6,006 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 134 total, 133 in this make and model, 63 as pilot in command, 61 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 16 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: FYV ## 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 19981122047049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981122047049A), Nov 22, 1998: Cessna 172P, Fayetteville, AR, No damage. (-23) On November 22, 1998, during a pleasure flight at 1410 CDT local time, a Cessna 172, registered to deanna robertson, piloted by russell richardson, a… 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.