# NTSB SEA94LA070: Cessna 172, N733WS, Casper, WY, March 2, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 1, 1994, 17:20 local (Mar 2, 1994, 00:20 UTC)
- Place: Casper, WY
- Coordinates: 43.170215, -107.320175 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1702&lon=-107.3202&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 2, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41884
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA070
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41884/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA070

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALIGNMENT WITH THE RUNWAY. THE CROSSWIND WAS OF FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING AN ATTEMPTED LANDING IN A CROSSWIND, THE PRIVATE PILOT, WHO WAS FLYING FROM THE RIGHT SEAT, ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO DRIFT OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY DURING THE FLARE. HIS ATTEMPTED REMEDIAL ACTION WAS NOT ADEQUATE TO CORRECT THE SITUATION, AND THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A RUNWAY DESIGNATOR SIGN AND A RUNWAY LIGHT.

## Factual narrative

On March 1, 1994, at 1720 mountain standard time (MST), a Cessna 172, N733WS, impacted a runway marker during an attempted landing  at Natrona County International Airport, Casper, Wyoming. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The local personal pleasure flight, which departed the same location about 20 minutes earlier, was in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation.

According to the pilot, who was flying from the right seat, he was attempting to land in an eight knot 50 degree crosswind, when he experienced difficulty maintaining directional control during the landing flare.  During his attempted remedial action the aircraft drifted off the side of the runway and impacted a runway designation marker and a runway light.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N733WS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N733WS), registered now, S/N 17268612, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 68612
- Airframe hours: 3537
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Avi Air Inc.
- Registered owner: Avi Air Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Limited (Special); Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 31, 1993, 68 hours before
- Airport: CPR, Natrona County Intl., runway 21, 10,600 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 405 total, 156 in this make and model, 322 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 46 °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 19940301003189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940301003189A), Mar 1, 1994: Cessna 172N, Casper, WY, Substantial damage. Drifted off runway during crosswind landing. Struck a runway sign.

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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