Cessna 172K N84688

Summary

On 19 February 2023 at about 15:10 local time, a Cessna 172K registered N84688, operated by Quad Cities Aero, LLC, was involved in an accident near Moline, Illinois, 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

19 February 2023 at 15:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Moline, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

Quad Cities Intl (MLI)

Coordinates

41.4489, -90.4997

Aircraft

Cessna 172K

Registration

N84688

Category

Airplane

Year built

1969

Engines

1

Operator

Quad Cities Aero, LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN23LA111

Nobody was injured.

The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in gusting crosswind conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The solo student pilot stated he was in the practice area and made the decision to return to the departure airport due to increasing winds. The pilot reported that on the landing rollout he felt a “large gust of wind” elevate the left wing making the airplane veer to the right. The pilot attempted to “pull back and brake.” The airplane exited the runway, and the left main wheel and strut impacted a runway sign which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A wind limitation in the flight school pre-solo packet states surface winds must be “less than 15 knot winds” and “less than 7 knot crosswind component.” The flight instructor did not list any limitations on the student’s initial solo endorsement. Five minutes before the accident, surface winds were reported from 230° at 17 knots, gusting to 26 knots. The student pilot was landing on runway 27. Runway 23 was closed at the time of the accident. According to the owner of the flight school, the student did not check in with her before launching to discuss weather and his flight plan as he was supposed to.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.