# NTSB LAX04CA023: Cessna 172M, N80543, Montague, CA, October 23, 2003

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 22, 2003, 17:15 local (Oct 23, 2003, 00:15 UTC)
- Place: Montague, CA
- Coordinates: 41.781387, -122.468055
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7814&lon=-122.4681&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 58242
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04CA023
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58242/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA023

## Probable cause

the pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind condition and failure to maintain directional control.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - crosswind
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - berm
  - terrain condition - plowed/furrowed
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

During a crosswind landing, the airplane veered off the runway, encountered a soft plowed field, and nosed over.  The pilot was performing his second crosswind landing of the flight when a gust of wind caused the airplane to veer off the runway.  He tried to steer the airplane through the freshly plowed field and back onto the runway when the airplane struck a berm and nosed over.  The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with any system during the event.

## Factual narrative

On October 22, 2003, at 1715 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N80543, veered off the runway and nosed over while landing at Montague Siskiyou County Airport, Montague, California.  The private pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91.  The pilot was not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.  The flight originated at Montague Yreka Rohrer Airport at 1645.

The pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that he was practicing crosswind landings to runway 17.  On his second landing, he applied full right rudder when a gust of wind pushed the airplane 40 to 50 feet left of the centerline.  The plane veered off the runway and into a freshly plowed field.  The pilot attempted to steer the airplane out of the field and onto the runway.  The airplane hit a berm that put it airborne.  The airplane dropped into a nose down attitude, the nose wheel sank into the ground, and the plane nosed over.

The Siskiyou Airport recorded winds of 270 at 12 knots at 1756.

In his written statement, the pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with any system during the event.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N80543](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N80543), registered now, S/N 17266647, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17266647
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Jeffery A. Bailey
- Registered owner: David and Kristine Weld
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: SIY, Montague, CA
- Destination: 1O5, Montague, CA
- Airport: SIY, Montague Siskiyou County, CA, runway 17

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 78 total, 78 in this make and model, 32 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 20031022028549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031022028549A), Oct 22, 2003: Cessna 172M, Montague, CA. (-23) 1. Gusty winds caused pilot to let the aircraft depart the runway after a successful landing. 2. Aircraft flipped over while trying to taxi the aircraft…

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.