Cessna 172L N4261Q

Summary

On 2 June 2002 at about 22:30 local time, a Cessna 172L registered N4261Q was involved in an accident near Dalhart, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 June 2002 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Dalhart, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Dalhart Municipal (DHT)

Coordinates

36.0228, -102.5472

Aircraft

Cessna 172L

Registration

N4261Q

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Liberal → Albuquerque

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW02LA171

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing factors were the shifting gusty winds and the ditch.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot obtained a standard weather briefing which included VFR conditions for the intended route of flight. En route, he observed a developing squall line intersecting the intended route, and he made a decision to divert and land the airplane. Following the "normal touchdown" on the runway, an "extremely strong wind burst accompanied by rain pushed" the airplane onto grass off the left side of the runway. Subsequently, the airplane struck a ditch running perpendicular to the runway before coming to rest nosed over. At the approximate time of the accident, the wind was from 340 degrees at 14 knots with gusts to 30 knots, visibility 2 1/2 statue miles, with heavy thunderstorms and rain showers, and a wind shift with peak gust at 44 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.