- Date
- April 21, 2011, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Palm Springs, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N62145Cessna 172P
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 3, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20110421006849A
- Case key
- 78938
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control after landing with a crosswind.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
After exiting the runway, the airplane encountered a gust of wind and flipped over. The pilot stated that he landed the airplane safely in a crosswind. As the airplane exited the runway, the wind shifted and he attempted to correct with full aileron and rudder input; however, his inputs were not successful and the airplane came to rest inverted. Airport personnel reported that both wings, the tail, and vertical and horizontal stabilizers were damaged. They also indicated that the pilot reported that there were no mechanical issues with the airplane. The wind at the airport about the time of the accident was reported to be from the northwest at 21 knots gusting to 38 knots.
Factual narrative
After exiting the runway, the airplane was struck by a gust of wind and flipped over. The pilot was interviewed by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector and stated that he had landed the airplane safely in crosswind conditions. As the airplane exited the runway, the wind shifted and he attempted to correct with full aileron and rudder input; however, his inputs were not successful and the airplane came to rest inverted. Airport personnel reported both wings, the tail, and vertical and horizontal stabilizers were damaged. They also indicated that the pilot reported that there were no mechanical issues with the airplane. Reported winds at the airport were from the northwest at 21 knots gusting to 38 knots. The pilot did not submit a written report.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N62145
- Reported as
- Cessna 172P
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17275220
- Airframe hours
- 6,721
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D2J, 15 hp, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Pro-Air Aviation LLC
- Registered owner
- Pro-Air Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 2, 2011
- Departed
- PSP · Palm Springs, CA
- Destination
- PSP · Palm Springs, CA
- Airport
- PSP · Palm Springs Internat'l Airpor, runway 31R, 10,001 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 18
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 3, 2010
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 160 total · 150 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 310° at 21 knots, gusting 38
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.85 inHg
- Observed at
- PSP
Docket · 5
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 10, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.9 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N62145 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.