CESSNA 172
Green Valley, AZ — March 12, 2018
Event Information
| Date | March 12, 2018 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | GAA18CA161 |
| Event ID | 20180312X85545 |
| Location | Green Valley, AZ |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 31.90917, -111.12083 |
| Airport | RUBY STAR AIRPARK |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | CESSNA |
| Model | 172 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing with a tailwind.
Full Narrative
The pilot reported that during the landing roll he felt as though the airplane was being pushed to the left side of the runway and he applied full right rudder and left aileron. The airplane exited the left side of the runway, and he added power to prevent the airplane's nose from colliding with a drainage culvert, but the airplane accelerated and impacted a tree.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the leading edge of the left wing.
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The pilot reported that the wind at the destination airport was 090 at 10 knots gusting to 15. The nearest weather reporting station, located 14 miles to the north at the departure airport, reported about the time of the accident the wind was from 040 at 3 knots. The airplane landed runway 24.
The pilot landed to runway 24 because of the 2.9 percent uphill gradient.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.