- Date
- July 22, 2018, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N99243Cessna 172
- Defining event
- Landing: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 18, 2019
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20180722017579A
- Case key
- 97853
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 directional control during landing in gusting 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 student pilot reported that, during a check ride and a short-field landing in gusting crosswind conditions, the touchdown was normal, but the airplane quickly veered right. He added that he and the designated pilot examiner applied left rudder to no avail. The airplane exited the runway to the right, the right main landing gear struck a taxiway sign, and the airplane came to rest in the grass adjacent to the taxiway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right horizontal stabilizer. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector conducted a postaccident examination. He reported that the rudder system appeared normal and functioned properly. He added that there were no pre-existing mechanical conditions that could have caused the accident. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 50° at 11 knots, gusting to 21 knots. The airplane landed on runway 33.
Factual narrative
The student pilot reported that, during a check ride, during a short field landing in gusting crosswind conditions, the touchdown was normal, but the airplane quickly veered to the right. He added that, he and the designated pilot examiner applied left rudder to no avail. The airplane exited the runway to the right, the right main landing gear struck a taxiway sign, and the airplane came to rest in the grass adjacent to the taxiway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right horizontal stabilizer. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector conducted a postaccident examination. He reported that the rudder system appeared normal and functioned properly. He added that there were no pre-existing mechanical conditions that could have caused the accident. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 50° at 11 knots, gusting to 21 knots. The airplane landed on runway 33. The airplane information manual stated that the maximum demonstrated crosswind is 15 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N99243
- Reported as
- Cessna 172 (P)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17276418
- Built
- 1985
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D2J, 160 hp, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · July 8, 2018
- Departed
- FLY · Colorado Springs, CO
- Destination
- FLY · Colorado Springs, CO
- Airport
- FLY · Meadow Lake, runway 33, 6,000 × 60 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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 65
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 130 total · 108 in this make and model · 36 as pilot in command · 21 in the last 90 days · 11 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Check pilot
- Age
- 74
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 3-point
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 50° at 11 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.30 inHg
- Observed at
- KFLY
Docket · 5
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 12, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 5.2 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.