# NTSB LAX07CA169: Cessna 172M, N5285H, St. George, UT, May 12, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 12, 2007, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: St. George, UT - Coordinates: 37.090557, -113.593055 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0906&lon=-113.5931&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 25, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 65783 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07CA169 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65783/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA169 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate compensation for a gusting crosswind and his 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 - roll - weather condition - crosswind - weather condition - gusts - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - not corrected, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - runway - airport facilities,taxiway lighting ## Analysis The airplane veered off of runway 16 and ground looped during the landing roll in strong crosswind conditions. The pilot stated in a written report that he checked the AWOS as he approached the airport and noted a direct crosswind of higher velocity than made him comfortable. He continued to circle north of the airport until he observed the winds drop to 19 knots. He decided to enter the pattern for runway 16 and perform a go-around to, "feel the winds." After a successful go-around, he elected to come around the pattern again and attempt a landing. The pilot said, "I set a little crab on final the second time around and executed a very smooth descent, flare and landing. Between five hundred feet and one thousand feet after touchdown, the airplane started to turn right, and I couldn't apply enough left rudder to stop it." The airplane departed the runway and the propeller struck a taxiway light and the left wing tip made contact with the ground. The airplane came to rest 30 feet beyond the runway edge. At 1555, the airport's AWOS reported winds of 250 degrees at 21 knots, gusting to 27 knots. The Pilot's Operating Handbook for a 1976 Cessna 172M states that, "The maximum allowable crosswind velocity is dependent on pilot capability as well as aircraft limitations. With average pilot technique, direct crosswinds of 15 knots can be handled with safety." The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. ## Factual narrative On May 12, 2007, about 1600 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N5285H, collided with terrain at St. George Municipal Airport (SGU), St. George, Utah. The owner, Spanish Fork Flying Service, operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The cross-country personal flight departed Spanish Fork-Springville Airport (U77), Spanish Fork, Utah, about 1330. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed; no flight plan had been filed. The pilot stated in a written report that he checked the Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS) as he approached St. George, and noted a direct crosswind of higher velocity than made him comfortable. He continued to circle north of the airport, until he observed the winds drop to 19 knots. He decided to enter the pattern for runway 16 and perform a go-around to "feel the winds." After a successful go-around, he elected to attempt a landing, "I set a little crab on final the second time around and executed a very smooth descent, flare and landing. Between five hundred feet and one thousand feet after touchdown, the airplane started to turn right, and I couldn't apply enough left rudder to stop it." The airplane departed the runway; the propeller struck a taxiway light, and the left wing tip made contact with the ground. The airplane came to rest 30 feet beyond the runway edge. At 1555, the St. George AWOS reported winds of 250 degrees at 21 knots gusting to 27 knots. The Pilot's Operating Handbook for a 1976 Cessna 172M states that in a crosswind landing, "Although the crab or combination method of drift correction may be used, the wing-low method gives best control"; "The maximum allowable crosswind velocity is dependent on pilot capability as well as aircraft limitations. With average pilot technique, direct crosswinds of 15 knots can be handled with safety." The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5285H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5285H), registered now, S/N 17265395, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A4M](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a4m) (registry code 42276, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17265395 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Spanish Fork Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 1, 2007, 38 hours before - Departed: U77, SPANISH FORK, UT - Destination: SGU, ST GEORGE, UT - Airport: SGU, St George Muni, runway 16, 6,606 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2; flight hours: 128 total, 5 in this make and model, 29 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 21 knots, gusting 27 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: SGU ## 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 20070512006989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070512006989A), May 12, 2007: Cessna 172M, Saint George, UT, Substantial damage. (-23) While landing with a 60 degree 19 knot crosswind pilot struck wingtip and prop on the ground causing substantial damage. ## Other investigations on N5285H (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 LAX80DUG53](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80DUG53), Aug 15, 1980: Cessna 172 (N5285H), Needles, CA, substantial damage - [NTSB DEN76FTM43](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN76FTM43), Aug 7, 1976: Cessna 172M (N5285H), Cedar City, UT, substantial damage 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.