# NTSB LAX98LA028: Cessna 172N, N6585D, Payson, AZ, November 2, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 2, 1997, 08:06 local (15:06 UTC) - Place: Payson, AZ - Coordinates: 34.189373, -111.17041 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1894&lon=-111.1704&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 15, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29991 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX98LA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29991/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA028 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of a downwind direction to land and his failure to compensate for the quartering tailwind condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - weather condition - tailwind - weather condition - crosswind - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (cause) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command - go-around - not performed, pilot in command - On ground/water collision with object, landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he had turned final for runway 24 and noticed he was a little high and hot. He said he compensated for it by lowering the nose and adding 5 additional degrees of flaps. Although the airspeed remained constant at 80 knots, he realized quickly that he was still high and fast so he entered a slip to increase the rate of descent. The pilot stated that he felt he could extend his landing even if he touched down past midpoint and decided not to go-around. He estimated that he hit the ground at 58 to 60 knots when he encountered a strong crosswind from the left, which pushed him off the runway. The aircraft subsequently came to rest against several trees. The airport manager stated that he heard the airplane touch down and 'it sounded very fast' so he looked up and saw the airplane rolling down the runway at a very fast rate of speed. The aircraft then departed the runway and collided with trees. In his written statement, the pilot reported the winds at the airport as 110 degrees at 5 knots. The winds at the closest aviation weather reporting station were 160 degrees at 7 knots. ## Factual narrative On November 2, 1997, at 0806 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 172, N6585D, collided with trees following a loss of control while landing at the Payson, Arizona, airport. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and his two passengers were not injured. The aircraft was being operated as a personal flight under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated in Scottsdale, Arizona, at 0720. The pilot stated that he had turned final for runway 24 at Payson when he noticed he was a "little high and hot." He said he compensated for it by lowering the nose and adding 5 additional degrees of flaps. Although the airspeed remained constant at 80 knots, he realized quickly that he was still high and fast so he entered a slip to increase the rate of descent. The pilot stated that he felt he could extend his landing even if he touched down past midpoint and decided not to go-around. He estimated that he hit the ground at 58 to 60 knots when he encountered a strong crosswind from the left, which pushed him off the runway. The aircraft subsequently came to rest against several trees. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector from the Scottsdale, Arizona, Flight Standards District Office interviewed the airport manager after the accident. The manager stated that he had heard the airplane touch down and "it sounded very fast" so he looked up and saw the airplane rolling down the runway at a very fast rate of speed. The aircraft then departed the runway and collided with trees. The inspector examined the runway and found several skid marks about 800 feet after the touchdown point. In his written statement, the pilot reported the winds at the airport as 110 degrees at 5 knots. The winds at the closest aviation weather reporting station were 160 degrees at 7 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6585D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6585D-1998-05-04), registration cancelled 1998-05-04, S/N 17272878 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17272878 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2J reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Southwest Flight Services - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: SDL, SCOTTSDALE, AZ - Destination: E69 - Airport: E69, Payson, runway 24, 5,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 275 total, 131 in this make and model, 190 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 7 knots - Visibility: 65 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PRC, 57 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19971102031659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971102031659A), Nov 2, 1997: Cessna 172N, Payson, AZ, Substantial damage. High and fast wind gust caused 172 swerve off runway into trees per pilot report. (.4) on November 2, 1997, at 0806 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 172,… 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.