# NTSB MIA08CA165: Cessna 172S, N1600U, Monroeville, AL, August 9, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 9, 2008, 00:01 local (05:01 UTC)
- Place: Monroeville, AL
- Coordinates: 31.454721, -87.350555
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.4547&lon=-87.3506&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 26, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 68791
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA08CA165
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68791/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08CA165

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for winds during landing. Contributing to the accident was a wind gust.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 206 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot was on a solo cross-country flight. As the airplane passed over the runway threshold at her planned destination, a strong gust of wind pushed the airplane down to the ground. The airplane landed hard bending the nose gear aft and damaging the firewall. The pilot did not report experiencing any flight control or mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident.

## Factual narrative

The student pilot stated that she was on a solo cross-country flight to Monroe County Airport (MVC), Monroeville, Alabama. She said that she checked the Automated Service Observing System (ASOS) weather at Middleton Field Airport (GZH), Evergreen, Alabama, prior to landing. She added that the GZH ASOS reported winds variable at 3 knots gusting to 14 knots. Review of the 1353 GZH weather revealed that winds were variable at 5 knots and clear. The student pilot went on to say that while passing over the runway threshold, a strong gust of wind pushed the airplane down to the ground, causing the airplane to land hard and bending the nose gear aft. The pilot did not report experiencing any flight control or mechanical anomalies prior to the accident. Examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the firewall and underbelly of the airplane were buckled.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1600U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1600U), registered now, S/N 172S9905, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172S
- Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172S9905
- Airframe hours: 2563.7
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Flight Training of Mobile
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 1, 2007, 50 hours before
- Departed: BFM, MOBILE, AL
- Destination: MVC, MONROEVILLE, AL
- Airport: MVC, Monroe County, runway 3, 6,028 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 31; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 57 total, 57 in this make and model, 4 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: GZH, 16 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 20080809855309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080809855309A), Aug 9, 2008: Cessna 172S, Monroeville, AL, Substantial damage. (-23) Student pilot was performing cross-country solo from kbfm to kmvc. Student pilot encountered a wind gust immediately after crossing runway 3 threshold.…

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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