SEA00LA154

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 120 · Arco, ID · September 13, 2000

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
September 13, 2000, 08:45 local (14:45 UTC)
Place
Arco, ID
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N2007VCessna 120
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report September 30, 2003
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA - BOISE FSDO
FAA report
20000913014509A
Case key
50252

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind condition. Wind gust was a factor.

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.

In flight encounter with weatherApproach - vfr pattern - final approach
Weather condition - gustsFactor
Compensation for wind conditions - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Nose overLanding - roll

Analysis

The pilot reported that he checked the wind conditions via the automated weather, and a visual check of the wind socks at either end of the runway. The winds were calm, and the pilot set-up for a landing. The pilot reported that just before the airplane touched down, a gust of wind raised the left wing. The right wing contacted the runway surface and the airplane veered to the right. The airplane exited the side of the runway and traveled into a ditch, nosing over and coming to rest inverted. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft at the time of the accident.

Factual narrative

On September 13, 2000, about 0845 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 120, N2007V, registered to Acme Aviation, and operated by a student pilot, nosed over during landing at Arco-Butte County airport, Arco, Idaho. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 solo instructional flight. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the student pilot was not injured. The flight departed from Rexburg, Idaho, about 55 minutes prior to the accident.

The student pilot reported that prior to landing on runway 06, he checked the wind conditions, via the automated weather reported for the airport, and then verified by the wind socks located at either end of the runway that the winds were calm. The pilot set-up for an approach to runway 06. Just before the aircraft touched down, a gust of wind from the left raised the left wing. The right wing contacted the runway surface and the airplane veered off the right side of the runway and into a ditch. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted.

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane at the time of the accident.

Aircraft

Registration
N2007V
Reported as
Cessna 120
Category
Airplane
Serial number
14218
Airframe hours
4,201
Engine
Continental C85-12F, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
Acme Aviation
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · June 9, 2000 · 97 hours before
Departed
RXE · Rexburg, ID
Destination
AOC
Flight plan
VFR
Airport
AOC · Arco-Butte County, runway 06, 6,600 × 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
34
Injuries
None
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
37 total · 35 in this make and model · 7 as pilot in command · 32 in the last 90 days · 14 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
64 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.