LAX04CA086

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172F · Redlands, CA · January 3, 2004

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
January 3, 2004, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC)
Place
Redlands, CA
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N5184FCessna 172F
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report March 30, 2004
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20040103004449A
Case key
58583

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

the pilot's inadequate compensation for the existing gusty crosswind condition, and his failure to maintain directional control. Contributing factors were a crosswind and wind gusts.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - on ground/waterGo-around (vfr)
Weather condition - crosswindFactor
Weather condition - gustsFactor
Compensation for wind conditions - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
In flight collision with objectGo-around (vfr)
Object - pole

Analysis

The airplane collided with a light post while attempting a go-around. Reported conditions were: winds at 15 knots with gusts to 27 knots; windshear; and a strong crosswind. During the landing roll, the airplane encountered a gust of wind in excess of 30 knots. The airplane veered off the runway into the adjacent gravel area. The pilot applied full power to regain flight control so that he could perform a go-around. After becoming airborne, the leading edge of the airplane's left wing collided with a light post, damaging the aileron. With the left flight control surface damaged, the pilot decided to return to the flight's origin point where the winds were from 030 degrees at 8 knots. He landed uneventfully. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident.

Factual narrative

On January 03, 2004, about 1200 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172F single engine airplane, N5184F, collided with a light post while attempting to go around at Redlands Municipal Airport (L12), Redlands, California. The airplane was registered to, and operated by, the pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal cross-country flight departed from the Riverside Municipal Airport (RAL), Riverside, California, about 1150. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed.

In a written statement, the pilot reported that he was attempting to land on runway 26. He received the local weather information from the UNICOM operator at L12. Reported conditions were: winds at 15 knots with gusts to 27 knots; windshear; and a strong crosswind. During the landing roll, the airplane encountered a gust of wind in excess of 30 knots. The airplane veered off the runway into the adjacent gravel area. The pilot applied full power to regain flight control so that he could perform a go-around. After becoming airborne, the leading edge of the airplane's left wing collided with a light post, damaging the aileron. With the left flight control surface damaged, the pilot decided to return to RAL. Reported winds at RAL were from 030 degrees at 8 knots. He landed at RAL uneventfully. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident.

Aircraft

Registration
N5184F
Reported as
Cessna 172F
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17253124
Engine
Continental O-300-D2D, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Kenneth D. Macknet
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
RAL · Riverside, CA
Destination
L12 · Redlands, CA
Airport
L12 · Redlands Municipal Airport, runway 26

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
33
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3
Flight hours
350 total · 60 in this make and model · 100 in the last 90 days · 36 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.