- Date
- June 15, 2019, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place
- Lebanon, KY
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N75903Cessna 172
- Defining event
- Landing: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 6, 2019
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20190615007019A
- Case key
- 99696
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 during landing in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion, impact with a ditch, and subsequent nose-over.
Findings · 4
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, during the landing roll, the airplane encountered a "big gust of wind," and the airplane veered left. The airplane exited the runway, impacted a ditch, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, vertical stabilizer, and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about 10 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 190° at 10 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 11. The calculated crosswind component was about 14 knots. The manufacturer's Pilot's Operating Handbook stated, "The maximum allowable crosswind velocity is dependent upon pilot capability as well as aircraft limitations. With average pilot technique, direct crosswinds of 15 knots can be handled with safety."
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that during the landing roll, the airplane encountered a "big gust of wind" and the airplane veered left. The airplane exited the runway, impacted a ditch and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, vertical stabilizer, and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about 10 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 190° at 10 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The airplane landed on runway 11. The calculated crosswind component was about 14 knots. The manufacturer's pilot's operating handbook states, "The maximum allowable crosswind velocity is dependent upon pilot capability as well as aircraft limitations. With average pilot technique, direct crosswinds of 15 knots can be handled with safety."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N75903
- Reported as
- Cessna 172 (N)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17268027
- Built
- 1976
- Airframe hours
- 5,956.8
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-H2AD, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Lexington Flying Club
- Registered owner
- Lexington Flying Club
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · April 11, 2019
- Departed
- 27K · Georgetown, KY
- Destination
- 6I2 · Lebanon, KY
- Airport
- 6I2 · Lebanon Springfield-George Hoe, runway 11, 5,001 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- 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
- Pilot
- Age
- 58
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 20, 2018
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 292 total · 292 in this make and model · 203 as pilot in command · 16 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 10 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.04 inHg
- Observed at
- 6I2
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 24, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.8 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.