# NTSB LAX93LA008: Cessna R172K, N736WZ, Picacho, AZ, October 10, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 10, 1992, 13:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place: Picacho, AZ
- Location: 32.7085° N, 111.4949° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Picacho, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7085&lon=-111.4949&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 31, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27842
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93LA008
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27842/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA008

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S ENCOUNTER WITH THE UNFORECASTED CYCLONIC WIND.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown
  - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
- In flight collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

BEFORE DEPARTING ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT THE PILOT CALLED THE FSS AND FOUND THAT NO ADVERSE WEATHER HAD BEEN REPORTED. THE PILOT THEN FLEW TO THE LOCAL AREA TO PRACTICE SOME BASIC MANEUVERS.  AFTER COMPLETING THE MANEUVERS HE FLEW TO AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT TO PRACTICE TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS.  UPON ARRIVING OVER THE AIRPORT HE BROADCAST HIS INTENTIONS TO LAND, BUT NO ONE RESPONDED.  THE PILOT OVERFLEW THE AIRPORT AND DETERMINED THAT THE SURFACE WINDS WERE LIGHT AND FAVORED RUNWAY 33.  HE THEN FLEW A NORMAL LEFT TRAFFIC PATTERN.  WHEN HE FLARED THE AIRCRAFT FOR LANDING, A STRONG WIND GUST, ASSOCIATED WITH A DUST DEVIL, SUDDENLY RAISED THE RIGHT WING. THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE RUNWAY BEFORE THE PILOT COULD ARREST THIS CONDITION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N736WZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N736WZ-2013-05-07), registration cancelled 2013-05-07, S/N R1722858, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA R172K
- Registry model: [Cessna R172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r172k) (registry code 2072431) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: R1722858
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-360-K 195 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Monterey Navy Flying Club
- Registered owner: Monterey Navy Flying Club
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 1, 1992, 50 hours before
- Departed: E60, ELOY, AZ
- Airport: E71, Eds Field, runway 33, 5,200 × 150 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 160 total, 45 in this make and model, 97 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F

## 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 19921010041589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921010041589A), Oct 10, 1992: Cessna R172K, Picacho, AZ, Substantial damage. Reported dust devil whirlwind struck aircraft as he flared to land. Left wing struck runway. Slid sideways into trees

## Other investigations on N736WZ (1)

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 LAX97FA093](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97FA093), Jan 22, 1997: Cessna R172K (N736WZ), Bagdad, AZ, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: continued flight by the pilot into adverse weather conditions, and his failure to maintain sufficient altitude or clearance from terrain. Factors relating to the accident were: the high/mountainous…

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.

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