- Date
- July 7, 1997, 15:37 local (22:37 UTC)
- Place
- Joshua Tree, CA
- Injuries
- 3 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N738ETCessna 172N
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 31, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970707017129A
- Case key
- 29832
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
failure of the pilot to adequately judge the wind direction and to select the correct runway, which resulted in a downwind landing; and his failure to go around, while there was sufficient runway remaining. The tailwind, fence, and ditch were related factors.
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 reported that while he was preparing to land, he was 'unable to determine any substantial wind by ground observation or from any effect on the path of the aircraft over terrain.' He stated that he then made a low pass over runway 6 and observed the windsock to show a moderate crosswind from the north. The pilot then made an approach, but landed long and with a slight bounce. The aircraft overran the runway and collided with a fence and a berm, then nosed over. The pilot further reported that after the accident, he observed the windsock to show a tailwind for landing on runway 6. Also, he was told that the winds were coming from 240 degrees at approximately 12 knots at the time of the accident. He stated that he 'misjudged the stopping distance and failed to initiate a go-around.'
Factual narrative
On July 7, 1997, at 1537 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N738ET, overran runway 6 on landing at the Joshua Tree, California, airport and collided with a fence and a berm, then nosed over. The aircraft was rented by the pilot from Morcom Aviation Services of Everett, Washington, for a cross-country personal flight to Joshua Tree. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and his two passengers sustained minor injuries. The flight originated at Santa Monica, California, on the day of the accident at 1415.
In his written statement, the pilot reported that while he was setting up the approach into the Joshua Tree Airport, he was "unable to determine any substantial wind by ground observation or from any effect on the path of the aircraft over terrain." He stated that after determining that there was no other traffic in the area, he made a low pass over runway 6 and observed the windsock to show a moderate crosswind from the north. The pilot reported that after going around, he made a normal approach but landed long and with a slight bounce. He then overran the runway and collided with a fence and a berm, then nosed over.
The pilot further reported that after the accident he observed the windsock to show a tailwind for landing on runway 6, and he was told that the winds were coming from 240 degrees at approximately 12 knots at the time of the accident. He stated that he "misjudged the stopping distance and failed to initiate a go-around."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N738ET
- Reported as
- Cessna 172N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17269926
- Airframe hours
- 9,813
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-H2AD, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Morcom Aviation Services, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 25, 1997 · 20 hours before
- Departed
- SMO · Santa Monica, CA
- Destination
- L80
- Airport
- L80 · Joshua Tree, runway 6, 2,493 × 50 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 65
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 571 total · 520 in this make and model · 502 as pilot in command · 17 in the last 90 days · 11 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 104 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- NXP, 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.