# NTSB SEA86LA112: Cessna 172, N7198A, Ellensburg, WA, April 28, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 27, 1986, 17:30 local (Apr 28, 1986, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Ellensburg, WA
- Coordinates: 46.970363, -120.469535 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.9704&lon=-120.4695&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40395
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA86LA112
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40395/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA86LA112

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, landing
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
- Hard landing, landing
- Nose gear collapsed, landing
- Nose over, landing

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PLT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND IN HIGH GUSTING X-WINDS. THE WIND WAS FROM ABOUT 290 DEGS AT 30 KTS GUSTING TO 35 KTS, THE RWY HEADING IS ABOUT 340 DEGS. THE PLT ALLOWED THE AIRSPEED TO DECAY TO 40 KTS JUST PRIOR TO THE FLARE AND A HARD FLAT LANDING RESULTED. THE ACFT'S NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N7198A (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 29298
- Airframe hours: 3000
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-A 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Joseph Hulse
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 23, 1985
- Departed: YKM, YAKIMA, WA
- Destination: ELLENSBURG, WA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: Jkd Airstrip, runway 34, 2,600 ×  ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 84 total, 25 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 30 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F

## 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 19860427037569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860427037569A), Apr 27, 1986: Cessna 172, Ellensberg, WA, Substantial damage. Landed hard, collapsed nose gear and nosed over in strong, gusty crosswind. Trees, house upwind caused windshear.

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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