- Date
- June 6, 2008, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place
- Byron, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N73403Cessna 172M
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 30, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20080606834489A
- Case key
- 68188
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 flight instructor's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions, and his inadequate supervision of the student pilot. Factors contributing to the accident were a sudden wind shift and wind gusts.
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 certificated flight instructor (CFI) and a student were practicing landings. They made two successful landings, and were on approach for a third. Around this time, the recorded winds were from 250 degrees at 7 knots gusting to 18. When the airplane was 50 feet above ground level (agl), and over the runway numbers, the student reduced power to idle per the CFI's instructions. At that moment, the airplane encountered a sudden wind shift or gust, which abruptly caused the airplane to pitch down and bank to the right. The CFI added full power, and applied back pressure on the yoke, but was unable to keep the airplane from descending rapidly. The nose gear and right main landing gear violently struck the runway. The nose gear broke off, and the airplane bounced. The CFI regained control, and landed the airplane on both main landing gear while keeping the nose gear off the ground as long as possible. The nose settled on the broken nose gear strut, and the airplane stopped on the runway.
Factual narrative
In a written statement, the certified flight instructor (CFI) reported that he and his student flew to Byron Airport, Byron, California, to practice landing. They listened to the Byron automatic weather observation service (AWOS), which reported winds from 250 degrees at 9 knots, gusting to 15. They made two successful landings on runway 23. The third approach was made at 65 knots and appeared normal. The approximate time of the third approach was 1130. When the airplane was 50 feet above ground level (agl) and over the runway numbers, the student reduced power to idle per the CFI's instructions. At that moment, the airplane was caught in a downdraft, which abruptly caused the airplane to pitch down and bank to the right. The CFI added full power and applied back pressure on the yoke, but was unable to keep the airplane from descending rapidly. The nose gear and right main landing gear violently struck the runway. The nose gear broke off, and the airplane bounced. The CFI regained control and landed the airplane on both main landing gear while keeping the nose gear off the ground as long as possible. The nose settled on the broken nose gear strut and the airplane stopped on the runway. The CFI indicated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.
At 1100, the Byron AWOS reported winds from 240 at 6 knots. At 1135, it reported winds from 250 at 7 knots gusting to 18.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N73403
- Reported as
- Cessna 172M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17267432
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Alex Al-Abed
- Registered owner
- Alex Al-Abed
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 1, 2008
- Departed
- SQL · San Carlos, CA
- Airport
- KC83 · Byron Airport, runway 23, 3,000 × 75 ft, asphalt
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 25
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1
- Last flight review
- April 1, 2008
- Flight hours
- 1,114 total · 685 in this make and model · 173 in the last 90 days · 16 in the last 30 days
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 17
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3
- Flight hours
- 12 total · 11 in this make and model · 12 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 250° at 7 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F
- Observed at
- LVK, 12 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N73403 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.