Gust leads to hard landing

By NTSB · June 21, 2013 ·

Aircraft: Cessna 172. Injuries: None. Location: Cortez, Colo. Aircraft damage: Substantial.

What reportedly happened: The pilot made three prior attempts to land, but aborted each landing due to gusty crosswind conditions.

On the fourth attempt, the airplane “ballooned” and encountered a strong wind gust. The pilot was unable to maintain control and the airplane landed hard on the nosewheel.

Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control while landing in gusty crosswind conditions.

NTSB Identification: CEN11CA392

This June 2011 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.

About NTSB

The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant events in the other modes of transportation, including railroad, transit, highway, marine, pipeline, and commercial space. It determines the probable causes of accidents and issues safety recommendations aimed at preventing future occurrences.

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