# NTSB LAX05CA302: Cessna 172S, N121CW, Show Low, AZ, September 18, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 18, 2005, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Show Low, AZ - Coordinates: 34.275554, -110.009162 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2756&lon=-110.0092&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 62512 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX05CA302 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62512/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05CA302 ## Probable cause the pilot's selection of a downwind runway for landing and his inadequate compensation for the strong and gusty quartering tail wind conditions, which resulted in a tail strike during landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis During landing, the airplane's tail impacted the ground and resulted in substantial damage to the base of the rudder and the right elevator. The pilot obtained the weather information from an airport located about 12 nautical miles southeast of the accident airport. The winds were reported from 130 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 18 knots. After an attempted landing for runway 03, the pilot performed a go-around and entered the landing pattern for runway 06. The pilot said he thought the windsock indicated favorable winds for landing runway 06. The approach to land was normal and the pilot flared the airplane, touching down on the right main gear first, and then the airplane bounced. The pilot said the airplane was suddenly pushed aside, to the north end of the runway and the tail section impacted the ground. The airplane settled to the ground momentarily before the pilot was able to perform the go-around and land uneventfully on runway 24. Post accident examination revealed that the right elevator was jammed. No mechanical malfunctions were noted with the airplane prior to the accident. An automated weather observation system (AWOS) for Show Low reported the following weather information 10 minutes following the accident: wind from 230 degrees at 20 knots, gusting to 26 knots. Ten minutes prior to the accident, the winds were reported from 200 degrees at 18 knots, gusting to 22 knots. ## Factual narrative On September 18, 2005, at 1000 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172S, N121CW, sustained a tail strike at the Show Low Regional Airport, Show Low, Arizona. Westwind Aviation was operating the airplane that was registered to a private company under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed. The pilot departed from Deer Valley Airport, Phoenix, Arizona, at 0900. The pilot reported that the en route portion of the flight to Show Low was uneventful. He obtained the weather information for Taylor Airport, Taylor, Arizona, located about 12 nautical miles southeast of the accident airport. The winds were reported from 130 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 18 knots. After an attempted landing for runway 03, the pilot performed a go-around and entered the landing pattern for runway 06. The windsock indicated favorable winds for landing runway 06. The approach to land was normal and the pilot flared the airplane, touching down on the right main gear first, and then the airplane bounced. The airplane, "was suddenly pushed aside, to the north end of the runway" and the tail section impacted the ground. The airplane settled to the ground momentarily before the pilot was able to perform the go-around and land uneventfully on runway 24. Post accident examination revealed that the right elevator was jammed and the skin at the base of the rudder was punctured. No mechanical malfunctions were noted with the airplane prior to the accident. An automated weather observation system (AWOS) for Show Low reported the following weather information 10 minutes following the accident: wind from 230 degrees at 20 knots, gusting to 26 knots. Ten minutes prior to the accident, the winds were reported from 200 degrees at 18 knots, gusting to 22 knots. It was noted during the course of the investigation that the current sectional aeronautical chart for Phoenix did not show an AWOS frequency for Show Low. The Airport Facility Directory (AFD), Southwest, currently shows an AWOS frequency of 118.075. The sectional charts are reissued every 6 months; the AFDs are updated every 56 days. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N121CW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N121CW), registered now, S/N 172S8975, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172S - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S8975 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Westwind Aviation - Registered owner: Crossways, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: DVT, Phoenix, AZ - Destination: SOW, Show Low, AZ - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: SOW, Show Low, runway 060, 7,200 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 17; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1; flight hours: 67 total, 67 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 20 knots, gusting 26 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: SOW ## 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 20050918031429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050918031429A), Sep 18, 2005: Cessna 172S, Show Low, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft sustained a tail strike during landing resulting in substantial damage to aft fuselage and empennage. Neither the pilot nor passengers received… ## Other investigations on N121CW (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 ERA25LA281](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA281), Jul 30, 2025: Cessna 172S (N121CW), Kissimmee, FL, substantial damage, investigation ongoing - [NTSB ERA13CA335](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA335), Jul 22, 2013: Cessna 172S (N121CW), New Smyrna Beach, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's improper landing flare and subsequent inadequate recovery from a bounced landing. 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.