Cessna 172
Silver City, NM — August 15, 2018
Event Information
| Date | August 15, 2018 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | GAA18CA493 |
| Event ID | 20180816X22836 |
| Location | Silver City, NM |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 32.63250, -108.15417 |
| Airport | GRANT COUNTY |
| Highest Injury | MINR |
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 | 1 |
| None | 0 |
| Total Injured | 1 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing with a quartering tailwind.
Full Narrative
The student pilot reported to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that, during a solo cross-country flight, while landing in a gusting crosswind, the airplane drifted off the runway to the left, and spun 180°. The nose landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing.
The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 5 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 140° at 10 knots. The airplane landed on runway 26.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator in charge repeatedly attempted to contact the student pilot via telephone and email regarding this accident, to no avail. The student pilot did not submit the NTSB Form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report.
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.