# NTSB WPR11LA175: Cessna 172N, N739DG, Spanish Fork, UT, March 21, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 21, 2011, 13:22 local (19:22 UTC) - Place: Spanish Fork, UT - Coordinates: 40.144443, -111.665557 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1444&lon=-111.6656&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report March 20, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78615 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11LA175 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78615/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78615 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA175 ## Probable cause The student pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusting wind, which resulted in a loss of airplane control during landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to depart with a high gusting wind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 82 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 150 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 134 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 81 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that, after he completed his preflight inspection, he delayed his departure because of reported high wind conditions at his planned destination airport located 5 nautical miles (nm) away. The nearest weather reporting facility was located at that airport, and the wind reported about 32 minutes before the accident was southwesterly at 16 knots, gusting to 26 knots. Shortly thereafter, the pilot noted that the wind was down the runway so he decided to depart for local takeoff-and-landing practice. During his first landing, the airplane bounced and the pilot said that he encountered a “microburst or intense wind.” The pilot lost control of the airplane and it departed the left side of the runway. The airplane cartwheeled several times and impacted an airport perimeter fence. About 28 minutes after the accident, the wind at the airport 5 nm away increased to 22 knots, gusting to 40 knots. Two witnesses reported a high, gusting wind at the accident airport and estimated it to be 40 to 50 knots from the southwest at the time of the accident. The pilot was landing to the southeast, and it is likely that the pilot encountered a gusting crosswind. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On March 21, 2011, at 1322 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N739DG, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain during landing on runway 12 at Spanish Fork Airport, Spanish Fork, Utah. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was seriously injured. The airplane was operated by Amehigh LLC under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local solo training flight, which had originated approximately 20 minutes before the accident. A flight plan had not been filed. The pilot reported that he was practicing for his private pilot check ride, which was scheduled to take place on March 25, 2011. After he performed a preflight inspection of the airplane, he delayed his departure because of reported high wind conditions at Provo, Utah, 5 nautical miles (nm) away, where he was planning to practice landings. He waited about an hour, and the wind speeds at Provo continued to increase. The pilot noted that at Spanish Fork the wind was down the runway. He decided to depart for some local practice takeoffs and landings. During his first landing on runway 12, the airplane bounced and encountered a “microburst or intense wind.” The pilot lost control of the airplane, and it departed the left side of the runway. The airplane cartwheeled several times and impacted an airport perimeter fence. Both wings and the empennage were wrinkled and bent, and the engine separated from its mounts. The wind reported at 1250 at Provo, located 5 nm northwest of the accident site, was from 200 degrees at 16 knots gusting to 26 knots. An hour later, at 1350, the reported wind conditions at Provo were from 200 degrees at 22 knots gusting to 40 knots. For runway 12, this wind would have resulted in a right steady state crosswind component of 21 knots and gust component of 38 knots. Spanish Fork does not have a weather reporting facility on the airport. A witness said that he saw the airplane taxi for takeoff and heard the airplane depart. He said that 5 minutes later, as he was preparing to leave the airport, the wind “came up” and shook his hangar, rattling the hangar door. This witness stated that as he drove away from the airport he estimated the wind was blowing at 40 to 50 knots and gusting violently. He said that about 10 minutes later he heard about the crash at the airport. Another witness who watched the accident from about 1/2 mile away, stated that the wind was so strong that it rocked the truck he was driving. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N739DG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N739DG-2019-03-25), registration cancelled 2019-03-25, S/N 17270456, built 1978 (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: 17270456 - Airframe hours: 3197 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Amehigh LLC - Registered owner: Amehigh LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 26, 2011 - Departed: U77, Spanish Fork, UT - Destination: U77, Spanish Fork, UT - Airport: U77, Spanish Fork, runway 12, 5,700 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 39; injuries: serious; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 58 total, 56 in this make and model, 15 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 22 knots, gusting 40 - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.69 inHg - Observed at: PVU, 5 nm away ## 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 20110321005809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110321005809A), Mar 21, 2011: Cessna 172N, Spanish Fork, UT, Substantial damage. Student pilot [privacy data omitted] decided to fly/operate N739DG, Cessna 172N, in the local Spanish Fork airport area in weather conditions with winds and… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 9, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78615. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361725&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement - Stauffer (item 2, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361727&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement%20-%20Stauffer-Master.PDF - Witness Statement - Patey (item 3, .PDF, 150 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361728&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement%20-%20Patey-Redacted.PDF - Weather Report (item 4, .PDF, 147 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361729&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF 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.