Cessna 172M N754LT

Summary

On 8 May 2002 at about 17:30 local time, a Cessna 172M registered N754LT was involved in an accident near Green Valley, Arizona, United States. 2 people were 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

8 May 2002 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Green Valley, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Continental Airstrip (35AZ)

Coordinates

31.8436, -110.9767

Aircraft

Cessna 172M

Registration

N754LT

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Nogales → Tucson

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX02LA153

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to identify the wind direction, which led to an attempted downwind landing approach that resulted in a hard landing and severe bounce. Also causal was the pilot's failure to promptly retract the flaps during the rejected landing after touchdown, which led to a stall/mush condition during the takeoff initial climb and a resultant collision with terrain. Factors in the accident were the high density altitude and the prevailing tailwind condition.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane impacted terrain next to the runway during an aborted landing. The pilot reported that the airplane lost altitude as the result of a down draft while executing a full stop landing on runway 01. The airplane touched down hard and bounced several times. An aborted landing was attempted, but the pilot did not retract the flaps. The airplane continued flying towards the right side of the runway, and was unable to climb over or turn away from the rising terrain into which it ultimately impacted. Both pilots indicated that prior to impact, the engine sounds were normal. Control continuity was established and no mechanical anomalies were found. The density altitude was 5,500 feet msl. Responding officers from the Tucson Airport Police Department reported that the winds were out of the south at 10 miles per hour, with occasional variations in direction from west through east.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.