- Date
- March 18, 2018, 22:15 local (Mar 19, 2018, 03:15 UTC)
- Place
- Vernon, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N1103FCessna 172
- Defining event
- Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Status
- Completed · report July 5, 2018
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20180318009659A
- Case key
- 96897
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 directional control while landing in gusty 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 pilot reported that, while conducting touch-and-go landings in the local pattern at night, the wind increased and began to gust during the third approach. He added that, he applied full power and performed a go-around. During the next landing, the airplane touched down, and the wind "increased and shifted" to the right. Subsequently, the airplane exited the left side of the runway and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the windshield, and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system located at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 230° at 19 knots, gusting to 23 knots. The pilot landed on runway 20.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that, while conducting touch-and-go landings in the local pattern at night, the wind increased and began to gust during the third approach. He added that, he applied full power and performed a go-around. During the next landing, the airplane touched down, and the wind "increased and shifted" to the right. Subsequently, the airplane exited the left side of the runway and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the windshield, and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system located at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 230° at 19 knots, gusting to 23 knots. The pilot landed on runway 20.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1103F
- Reported as
- Cessna 172 (G)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17254698
- Built
- 1966
- Airframe hours
- 3,750
- Engine
- Cont Motor O-300 SER, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 1, 2017
- Departed
- F05 · Vernon, TX
- Destination
- F05 · Vernon, TX
- Airport
- F05 · Wilbarger County, runway 20, 5,099 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Stall warning system
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
- 46
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 27, 2018
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 335 total · 108 in this make and model · 120 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Wind
- 230° at 19 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 4,800 ft broken
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.57 inHg
- Observed at
- KF05
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 16, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 654 KB 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 N1103F · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.