- Date
- November 27, 2017, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- Black River Falls, WI
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N8128MCessna 182
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 21, 2018
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20171127022129A
- Case key
- 96378
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 student pilot’s failure to maintain lateral control of the high-performance airplane during the go-around in crosswind conditions.
Findings · 5
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 solo student pilot in the high-performance airplane reported that, during approach, the airplane descended through turbulence. He added that the automated weather observation system reported wind "variable between 110 and 160" and that he was landing on runway 8, so he "crabbed to the right." During the landing flare, he aligned the airplane with the runway centerline and "was quickly pushed left." The student added full power to go around, and about 30 to 50 ft above the ground, "a gust of wind caused [him] to bank/turn left," and the airplane impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that the student pilot did not possess a high-performance endorsement. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport revealed that, about 5 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 140° at 8 knots and variable from 110° to 170°. The airplane landed on runway 8.
Factual narrative
The solo student pilot in the high-performance airplane reported that, during approach, the airplane descended through turbulence. He added that the automated weather observation system reported wind "variable between 110 and 160", and he was landing on runway 8, so he "crabbed to the right". During the landing flare, he aligned the airplane with the runway centerline and "was quickly pushed left". The student added full power to go around and, about 30-50 ft off the ground, "a gust of wind caused [him] to bank/turn left" and the airplane impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that the student pilot did not possess a high-performance endorsement. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 5 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 140° at 8 knots, wind variable from 110° to 170°. The airplane landed on runway 8.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8128M
- Reported as
- Cessna 182 (P)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18264544
- Built
- 1976
- Engine
- Cont Motor O-470S, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- LSE · La Crosse, WI
- Destination
- BCK · Black River Falls, WI
- Airport
- BCK · Black River Falls Area, runway 08, 4,601 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot
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
- Student pilot
- Age
- 39
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- BasicMed, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 70 total · 70 in this make and model · 19 as pilot in command · 19 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 140° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 52 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.87 inHg
- Observed at
- KBCK
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 22, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.1 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.
Other investigations on N8128M · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.