Cessna 172N N3159E

Summary

On 26 June 2015 at about 15:50 local time, a Cessna 172N registered N3159E was involved in an accident near Vernal, Utah, United States. 2 people were 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

26 June 2015 at 15:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Vernal, Utah, United States

Nearest airport

Vernal Rgnl (VEL)

Coordinates

40.4447, -109.5114

Aircraft

Cessna 172N

Registration

N3159E

Category

Airplane

Year built

1979

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Vernal → Vernal

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA15CA156

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing in crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and an impact with an airport sign.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that during the landing roll he encountered a crosswind, the left wing lifted, and the airplane began to drift left of the centerline. He attempted to correct with the right rudder and brake but the airplane departed the runway to the left. During the runway excursion, the airplane impacted an airport sign and came to rest on an adjacent runway. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Substantial damage was found to the right elevator and firewall. The reported wind at the airport about the time of the accident were from 080 degrees at 11 knots, which created a crosswind component of 2 knots for landing on runway 7. 

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.