# NTSB GAA18CA493: Cessna 172, N1543Y, Silver City, NM, August 15, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 15, 2018, 11:50 local (17:50 UTC) - Place: Silver City, NM - Coordinates: 32.632499, -108.154167 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6325&lon=-108.1542&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98083 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA493 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98083/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98083 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA493 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing with a quartering tailwind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072408), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172C, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072408), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 172C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=2072408), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 172C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072408), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 172C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072408), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072408), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072408), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 172C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072408), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172C, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072408), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that, during a solo cross-country flight, while landing in a gusting crosswind, the airplane drifted off the runway to the left and spun 180°. The nose landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 5 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 140° at 10 knots. The airplane landed on runway 26. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that, during a solo cross-country flight, while landing in a gusting crosswind, the airplane drifted off the runway to the left, and spun 180°. The nose landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 5 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 140° at 10 knots. The airplane landed on runway 26. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator in charge repeatedly attempted to contact the student pilot via telephone and email regarding this accident, to no avail. The student pilot did not submit the NTSB Form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1543Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1543Y-2021-07-31), registration cancelled 2021-07-31, S/N 17249243, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 (C) - Registry model: [Cessna 172C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172c) (registry code 2072408) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17249243 - Year built: 1962 - Engines: Continental O-300 SER 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Destination: SVC, Silver City, NM - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: SVC, Grant County, runway 26, 6,802 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 47; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: KSVC, 1 nm away ## 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 20180815014229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180815014229A), Aug 15, 2018: Cessna 172C, Silver City, NM, Substantial damage. On August 15, 2018, at 1150 MDT, a Cessna 172C, N1543Y, registered to [privacy data omitted] was substantially damaged on landing at grant county airport… ## Other investigations on N1543Y (2) 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. - [NTSB NYC79FHA18](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC79FHA18), Aug 2, 1979: Cessna 172 (N1543Y), Germansville, PA, substantial damage - [NTSB UNK64X3725](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X3725), Sep 1, 1964: Cessna 172 (N1543Y), Candor, NC, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 31, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98083. 218 KB in all. - Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector (item 1, .PDF, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467905&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 148 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467906&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-Master.PDF 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.