- Date
- February 23, 1997, 16:15 local (Feb 24, 1997, 00:15 UTC)
- Place
- Petaluma, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N20508Cessna 172M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 28, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970223001979A
- Case key
- 29733
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 pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind condition and his failure to maintain directional control.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated that he noted a crosswind of approximately 15 knots while on downwind leg for landing. On final approach the crosswind required about a 15-degree crab angle but the wind was smooth and steady. He transitioned to a slip to maintain runway alignment during the landing flare. During the landing roll the aircraft suddenly veered and skidded to the right and full left brake and rudder wouldn't keep the aircraft on the runway. The aircraft veered off the runway to the right and the nose wheel became mired in mud which caused the aircraft to veer further to the right and the left wing tip contacted the ground. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the aircraft.
Factual narrative
On February 23, 1997, at 1615 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172M, N20508, was substantially damaged when it swerved and the left wing contacted the runway during a crosswind landing at Petaluma Municipal Airport, Petaluma, California. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions were reported by the pilot for the personal flight.
In his report to the operator of the aircraft, the pilot stated that he noted a crosswind of approximately 15 knots while on downwind leg for landing. On final approach a 15-degree crab angle was required, but the wind was smooth and steady. He transitioned to a slip to maintain runway alignment during the landing flare. During landing roll the plane suddenly veered and skidded to the right and full left brake and rudder wouldn't keep the aircraft on the runway. The aircraft veered off the runway to the right and the nose wheel became mired in mud which caused the aircraft to veer further to the right and the left wing tip contacted the ground.
In his report, the pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the aircraft.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N20508
- Reported as
- Cessna 172M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17261349
- Airframe hours
- 6,384
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Bill R. Hinds
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 1, 1996 · 10 hours before
- Departed
- O48 · Little River, CA
- Destination
- O69
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- O69 · Petaluma Municipal, runway 29, 3,600 × 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
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 39
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 227 total · 58 in this make and model · 181 as pilot in command · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 45° at 15 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 57 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.