Cessna 172 N61663

Summary

On 31 May 2004 at about 15:40 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N61663, operated by Levelland Aviation, was involved in an accident near Levelland, Texas, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

31 May 2004 at 15:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Levelland, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Levelland Municipal Airport (LLN)

Coordinates

33.5514, -102.3700

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N61663

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Levelland Aviation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Levelland → Levelland

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW04LA145

Nobody was injured.

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control and his inadequate compensation for the winds.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The solo student pilot lost control of the single-engine airplane while landing with a left crosswind. The 33-hour student pilot reported that he configured the airplane with 10 degrees of flaps and airspeed at 80 knots for a second touch and go landing on Runway 17. The pilot stated that he landed on the 6,110-foot by 75-foot wide runway with a prevailing crosswind from 100 degrees at 8 knots. Upon landing, the airplane bounced and began to "float." The airplane touched down a second time, and began to skid to the right. The pilot stated, "I lost control of the plane, and it went off the runway." Wind conditions at the time of the accident were reported from 120 degrees at 13 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.