# NTSB SEA94LA238: Cessna 172, N9918Q, Bullfrog, UT, September 9, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 9, 1994, 17:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Bullfrog, UT - Coordinates: 37.569492, -110.320426 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5695&lon=-110.3204&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 13, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42022 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA238 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42022/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA238 ## Probable cause THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND EXCEEDED THE AIRPLANE'S MAXIMUM CROSSWIND COMPONENT CAPABILITY. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE GUSTY CROSSWIND. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - crosswind component - exceeded, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing ## Analysis THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND ATTEMPTED TO PERFORM A FULL STOP LANDING AT THE AIRPORT. STRONG CROSSWINDS WITH REPORTED GUSTS OF 45 MILES PER HOUR WERE BLOWING FROM THE SOUTHWEST. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ON THE SOUTHERLY RUNWAY AND THEN BEGAN TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT DID NOT MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED OFF THE RUNWAY AND INTO A MOUND OF DIRT. ## Factual narrative On September 9, 1994, about 1745 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172, N9918Q, operated by Hi Valley Aviation, Inc., Heber City, Utah, collided with terrain during landing rollout and was substantially damaged in Bullfrog, Utah. The private pilot and his three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was filed. The personal flight departed from Provo, Utah, and was conducted under 14 CFR 91. According to a district ranger at the Glen Canyon National Recreational Area, the airplane landed on runway 19 at the Bullfrog Basin Airport during a "strong crosswind." The airplane "bounced a couple of times" and veered off the east side of the runway. The airplane then struck a mound of dirt along the eastern edge of the runway. The left wing was buckled and the left horizontal stabilizer was damaged. The ranger reported that the winds were from the west at 25 miles per hour (mph), gusting to 45 mph. According to the pilot, he "knew that [he] was going to be fighting a crosswind out of the south west and that it was a strong one." The pilot stated that after touching down on the runway, the airplane began to drift, despite the pilot's attempt to keep the airplane aligned with the runway centerline. The airplane then "skidded" off the east side of the runway and struck a mound of dirt. No mechanical malfunctions were reported. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9918Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9918Q), registered now, S/N 17265862, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Hi Valley Aviation, Inc. - Registered owner: Hi Valley Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PVU, PROVO, UT - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: U07, Bullfrog Basin, runway 19, 3,500 × 40 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 105 total, 74 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 225° at 20 knots, gusting 40 - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °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 19940909026249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940909026249A), Sep 9, 1994: Cessna 172M, Glen Canyon Nat, UT, Substantial damage. Tried to land in a 45 knot quartering crosswind. Weathervaned into wind. Exited runway into a mound of dirt. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.