Cessna 172
Stephenville, TX — March 31, 2019
Event Information
| Date | March 31, 2019 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | GAA19CA192 |
| Event ID | 20190401X14946 |
| Location | Stephenville, TX |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 32.21528, -98.17778 |
| Airport | Stephenville Clark Rgnl |
| 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 student pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing, and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control in gusting crosswind conditions that exceeded the airplane’s demonstrated crosswind for landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and nose-over.
Full Narrative
The student pilot reported that during landing, the airplane was configured with flaps 30°, and the airspeed was 70 knots. When the airplane was over the runway, he reduced the throttle to idle and initiated the landing flare. The airplane descended rapidly, landed hard and bounced. He aborted the landing, "but the wind caught me and the next thing I knew, I was facing the taxiway." The airplane exited the left side of the runway and nosed over.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing lift strut.
The METAR for the accident airport, reported that at the time of the accident, the wind was from 050° at 12 knots, and gusting to 20 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 32.
According to the manufacturer's Pilot Operating Handbook, the maximum demonstrated crosswind is 15 knots.
The crosswind component for the accident flight was 16 knots.
The student pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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.