# NTSB LAX96LA157: Cessna 172, N62038, Sedona, AZ, April 6, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 6, 1996, 10:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Sedona, AZ - Coordinates: 34.940898, -111.940338 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9409&lon=-111.9403&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 31, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29408 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA157 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29408/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA157 ## Probable cause the pilot misjudged the flare. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot said that he encountered a dust devil when he flared the airplane for landing. He applied power, but the left wing and nose dropped and contacted the runway. A ground witness said that the airplane's left wing dropped when the pilot flared the airplane, but he did not report any dust devil activity in the area. He said that the surface winds were less than 5 knots. The AWOS reported the surface winds at 6 knots, gusting to 15 knots. ## Factual narrative On April 6, 1996, at 1015 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 172, N62038, left wing contacted the asphalt surface while landing on runway 03 at Sedona Airport, Sedona, Arizona. The pilot was completing a visual flight rules personal flight. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. Neither the certificated private pilot nor his two passengers were injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Deer Valley Airport, Phoenix, Arizona, about 0900 hours. A ground witness reported that he observed the airplane landing on runway 03. When the airplane began to flare, the left wing dropped and it contacted the runway, followed by the nose landing gear. He said that the surface winds were less than 5 knots. The airport's automated weather observation system (AWOS) showed that the surface winds were from 020 degrees at 6 knots, gusting to 15 knots. The pilot said in a telephone interview conducted on April 6, 1996, at 1030 hours, that he entered the traffic pattern from over the airport. He said that he received the landing information before he entered the traffic pattern and while on final approach. When he flared the airplane about 10 feet above the ground, the airplane encountered a dust devil which pushed the airplane to the right. The pilot applied power to execute a go-around, but the left wing dropped and contacted the runway, followed by the nose landing gear. The pilot also said that the airplane did not experience any preimpact malfunctions or failures. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N62038](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N62038-2010-03-31), registration cancelled 2010-03-31, S/N 17275201 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172-25201 - Airframe hours: 3223 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gottfried Schmidt - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 28, 1996, 44 hours before - Departed: DVT, PHOENIX, AZ - Destination: SEZ - Airport: SEZ, Sedona, runway 3, 5,100 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 433 total, 377 in this make and model, 433 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 6 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SEZ ## 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 19960406006189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960406006189A), Apr 6, 1996: Cessna 172P, Sedona, AZ, Substantial damage. Pilot reported hit by dust devil on landing flare. Began go around but left wing hit runway then nose gear. ## Other investigations on N62038 (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 LAX83LA418](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LA418), Aug 28, 1983: Cessna 172P (N62038), Glendale, AZ, 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.