Cessna 172S N541ER

Summary

On 17 May 2009 at about 18:40 local time, a Cessna 172S registered N541ER, operated by Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, was involved in an accident near Flagstaff, Arizona, 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

17 May 2009 at 18:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Flagstaff, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Flagstaff Pulliam (FLG)

Coordinates

35.1386, -111.6711

Aircraft

Cessna 172S

Registration

N541ER

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Prescott → Flagstaff

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR09CA266

Nobody was injured.

The student pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusty wind conditions and failure to maintain directional control during landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The purpose of the flight was for the student pilot to complete his first solo cross-country flight as a step toward obtaining his private pilot certificate. He touched down normally at the first airport on his three-leg flight. While on the landing roll, the airplane encountered a strong gust of wind, resulting in the airplane veering to the left. Despite the pilot's control inputs, the airplane continued to the left and departed the runway surface, impacting a dirt berm adjacent to the runway. The nose landing gear subsequently collapsed, resulting in firewall damage. The wind velocity was reported at 3 knots, gusting to 15 knots. The operator reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.