# NTSB SEA97LA060: Cessna 172N, N5552E, Delta, UT, February 21, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 21, 1997, 15:05 local (22:05 UTC) - Place: Delta, UT - Coordinates: 39.290935, -112.560234 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2909&lon=-112.5602&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 14, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42563 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA97LA060 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42563/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA060 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to adequately compensate for the prevailing wind conditions, and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Factors contributing to the accident are a sudden shift in the prevailing wind at the time of the landing, and the presence of a mound of dirt near the runway. ## 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 - weather condition - sudden windshift (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The private pilot stated that he overflew the airport, observed the wind sock, and listened to the airport's recorded weather information immediately prior to landing. The wind sock and weather recording indicated calm winds. Upon touchdown onto the runway, the airplane encountered a sudden, gusty, quartering tail wind. The airplane then veered off the east side of the runway and into a mound of dirt, despite the pilot's attempts to maintain directional control. The nose gear was sheered off and the airplane flipped over, damaging both wing struts. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions. ## Factual narrative On February 21, 1997, about 1505 mountain standard time, N5552E, a Cessna 172N, operated by Utah Valley Aviation, Provo, Utah, nosed over during landing rollout and was substantially damaged in Delta, Utah. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The personal flight departed from Provo, Utah, and was conducted under 14 CFR 91. In a telephone interview, the pilot stated that he was practicing an instrument approach into the Delta Municipal Airport. At the completion of the approach, he performed a circle-to-land approach to runway 16. He stated that the airplane encountered a "quartering tailwind" during the landing. The airplane then veered off the east side of the runway and into a mound of dirt. The nose gear was sheered off and the airplane flipped over, damaging both wing struts. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions. In a written statement later provided to the Safety Board (attached), the pilot further stated that he overflew the airport prior to landing and observed that the wind sock was limp, indicating calm winds. He also listened to the most recent weather information that was being broadcast over the airport's Automated Weather Observation Station (AWOS). The AWOS was also reporting calm winds. The pilot elected to land on runway 16 after a "standard" traffic pattern entry. The pilot further stated : As I touched down, and soon after I received a strong quartering tailwind which started to drift the airplane to the left of the runway. I tried to correct with right aileron and add power to take off again, but as fast as I was being pushed to the side, I decided to cut power and try to stop the airplane. I was already on the ground, and I believe I had already taken the flaps up, for the touch and go procedure. I attempted to brake to stop the airplane on the runway, but the wind continued and pushed the airplane off the runway into the dirt. The plane started to slow, but hit a small mound of dirt, which caused the plane to nose over, and we were left upside down. In the "Recommendation" section of the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 (attached) sent to the Safety Board by the pilot, the pilot wrote: "Perhaps more training on recovery in unexpected tail wind and or gusty winds." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5552E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5552E), registered now, S/N 17271887 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - 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: 17271887 - Airframe hours: 3411 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Utah Valley Aviation - Registered owner: Smith & Barlow Enterprises - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 3, 1996, 47 hours before - Departed: PVU, PROVO, UT - Destination: DTA - Airport: DTA, Delta Municipal Airport, runway 16, 6,011 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 130 total, 6 in this make and model, 130 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 355° at 5 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 19 °F - Observed at: U24 ## 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 19970221001749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970221001749A), Feb 21, 1997: Cessna 172N, Delta, UT, Substantial damage. Landing quartering tailwind. Veered off rwy. Hit dirt pile. Sheared nose gear. Nosed over. ## Other investigations on N5552E (2) 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. - [NTSB DEN02LA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02LA003), Oct 21, 2001: Cessna 172N (N5552E), Provo, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing. Contributing factors were the pilot's lack of total experience in aircraft, and the pilot's lack of recent experience in kind of aircraft. - [NTSB DEN86LA184](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN86LA184), Jul 3, 1986: Cessna 172N (N5552E), Tooele, UT, substantial damage 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.