# NTSB SEA97LA139: Cessna 172, N8776B, Wendover, UT, June 14, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 13, 1997, 19:20 local (Jun 14, 1997, 01:20 UTC) - Place: Wendover, UT - Coordinates: 40.970199, -111.510299 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9702&lon=-111.5103&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 24, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42630 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA97LA139 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42630/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA139 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control. Factors include the pilot's improper decision to continue his flight into an area where he had observed thunderstorms, and a thunderstorm outflow which created strong wind gusts that the aircraft encountered during the landing roll. ## 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 - thunderstorm,outflow (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis While inbound to his destination, the pilot saw that thunderstorms had formed in the general area of the airport. Instead of returning to the point of departure, the pilot elected to continue on to the airport where he had planned to land. By the time he arrived at the airport, the thunderstorms had moved closer to the runway, and strong, gusty winds were being created by the thunderstorm outflow. During the landing roll, the aircraft was hit by a strong quartering tailwind, and the pilot was unable to maintain directional control. During his attempts to keep the aircraft tracking down the runway, the aircraft started sliding sideways, and one wing impacted the runway surface. ## Factual narrative On June 13, 1997, approximately 1920 mountain daylight time, the wing of a Cessna 172, N8776B, impacted the runway during the landing roll at Wendover Airport, Wendover, Utah. The private pilot and two of his passengers were not injured, but one passenger, who was thrown from the aircraft during the accident, received minor injuries. The aircraft, which was owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which was operating in visual meteorological conditions, departed Salt Lake City Airport Number 2 about 40 minutes prior to the accident. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation. According to the pilot, as he was inbound to the Wendover Airport, he could see that thunderstorms had formed in the area near Wendover. But, because the weather was VFR at the airport, he elected to continue his flight to the planned destination instead of returning to Salt Lake City. At the time of the landing, the thunderstorms had moved closer to the airport, and the thunderstorm outflow was creating strong, gusty winds at the airport. During the landing roll, a strong quartering tailwind hit the aircraft from behind, and the aircraft tipped forward and to the side. The pilot was unable to keep the aircraft tracking straight down the runway, and the aircraft began to slide sideways and one wing impacted the runway surface. As the aircraft was coming to a stop, the right door swung open and one passenger fell from the aircraft. Within two minutes after the accident, hard rain started falling at the accident site. The pilot failed to return an NTSB Form 6120.1/2. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8776B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8776B-2017-06-19), registration cancelled 2017-06-19, S/N 36476, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17236476 - Engines: Continental O-300-A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Hansen, Chris G. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Departed: U42, SALT LAKE CITY, UT - Destination: ENV - Airport: ENV, Wendover, runway 30, 8,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 50 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 15 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °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 19970614014209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970614014209A), Jun 14, 1997: Cessna 172, Wendover, UT, Substantial damage. Aircraft crashed on landing. 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.