- Date
- April 3, 2017, 14:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place
- Twisp, WA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N7547GCessna 172
- Defining event
- Landing: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 17, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20170403002269A
- Case key
- 94963
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain crosswind correction during landing, which resulted in the airplane cartwheeling.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that, about 50 ft above the runway, a wind gust from the south caused the airplane to drift. The pilot added that she attempted to go around but was unsuccessful. The right wing impacted the ground, and the airplane cartwheeled. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. According to the pilot, the wind about the time of the accident was variable from 6° to 8°, gusting to between 10 and 12 knots. The airplane was landing on runway 28.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that, about 50 ft. above the runway, a gust of wind from the south caused the airplane to drift. The pilot added that, she attempted to go-around but was unsuccessful. The right wing impacted the ground and subsequently, the airplane cartwheeled. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. According to the pilot, the wind about the time of the accident was variable from 6° to 8°, wind gusts 10 to 12 knots. The airplane was landing on runway 28.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7547G
- Reported as
- Cessna 172 (L)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17259247
- Built
- 1970
- Airframe hours
- 5,523.52
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Louise Bighouse
- Registered owner
- Christopher D. Zahn
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 23, 2016
- Departed
- 2S0 · Twisp, WA
- Destination
- 2S0 · Twisp, WA
- Airport
- 2S0 · Twisp Muni, runway 28, 2,701 × 36 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Unknown
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 57
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 21, 2016
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 190 total · 94 in this make and model · 190 as pilot in command · 4 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 350° at 9 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.11 inHg
- Observed at
- KOMK, 24 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 14, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.3 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.