CESSNA 172S
Cortez, CO — June 14, 2011
Event Information
| Date | June 14, 2011 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | CEN11CA392 |
| Event ID | 20110615X31343 |
| Location | Cortez, CO |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 37.30167, -108.62361 |
| Airport | Cortez Municipal |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | CESSNA |
| Model | 172S |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 3 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while landing in gusty crosswind conditions.
Full Narrative
The pilot said he made three prior attempts to land but aborted each landing due to the gusty crosswind conditions. On the fourth attempt, the airplane "ballooned" during the landing flare and encountered a strong wind gust. The pilot was unable to maintain control and the airplane landed hard on the nose wheel. A review of photographs taken of the airplane immediately after the accident revealed that the nose wheel was pushed up and into the cockpit, which substantially damaged the firewall.
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.