# NTSB SEA94LA077: Cessna 172, N19678, Evanston, WY, March 8, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 8, 1994, 16:15 local (23:15 UTC)
- Place: Evanston, WY
- Location: 41.2748° N, 111.0346° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at EVANSTON-UINTA COUNTY BURNS FLD (EVW), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2748&lon=-111.0346&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 2, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41890
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA077
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41890/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA077

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. FACTORS INCLUDE GUSTY CROSSWIND, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll

## Analysis

WHILE ATTEMPTING A LANDING IN GUSTY CROSSWINDS, THE STUDENT PILOT, WHO WAS ON HIS FIRST SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE LANDING ROLL. HIS REMEDIAL ACTION WAS NOT ADEQUATE TO KEEP THE AIRCRAFT FROM DEPARTING THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. AFTER DEPARTING THE RUNWAY, THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A SNOW BANK.

## Factual narrative

On March 8, 1994, approximately 1615 mountain standard time (MST), a Cessna 172, N19678, impacted the terrain during the landing roll at Burns Field, Evanston, Wyoming. The student pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The solo instructional flight, which departed Big Piney Municipal Airport, Big Piney, Wyoming, about one hour earlier, was in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. The pilot was on a VFR flight plan, and there was no report of an ELT activation.

According to the operator, the student pilot was returning to Evanston from his first solo cross-country flight. While attempting a landing in gusty crosswinds, the pilot lost directional control of the aircraft, and his remedial action was not adequate to keep the aircraft from departing the side of the runway. After departing the runway, the airplane impacted a snow bank with one of its wings.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N19678 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17260661
- Airframe hours: 3012
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Star West Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 9, 1994, 49 hours before
- Departed: BPI, BIG PINEY, WY
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: EVW, Burns Field, runway 5, 7,300 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 28 total, 28 in this make and model, 7 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 36 °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 19940308004289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940308004289A), Mar 8, 1994: Cessna 172L, Evanston, WY, Substantial damage. Student lost control landing in gusty crosswind. Ran off runway into snowbank. Too much wind for solo cross country

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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