HARTFORD, AL, USA
N73846
CESSNA 172N
THE DUAL STUDENT AND HIS INSTRUCTOR WERE IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR LANDING AT A PRIVATE, GRASS AIRSTRIP. THE STUDENT WAS AT THE CONTROLS. WHILE ON SHORT FINAL, A GUST OF WIND WAS ENCOUNTERED, WHICH RESULTED IN A DRIFT TO THE RIGHT. FULL POWER WAS ADDED BY BOTH PILOTS, AND A GO-AROUND WAS INITIATED. DURING THE GO-AROUND, THE RIGHT WING TIP CONTACTED TREES. CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE WAS LOST, AND THE AIRPLANE CRASHED INTO THE ROOF OF A MOBILE HOME WHICH WAS LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY. AT A NEARBY AIRPORT, SURFACE WINDS WERE REPORTED TO BE FROM 250 DEGREES AT 11 KNOTS, WITH GUSTS TO 16 KNOTS. THE PILOTS REPORTED THAT WHILE IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THEY OBSERVED THE WIND SOCK INDICATING VARIABLE WIND DIRECTIONS, AND THE SOCK WAS 'STRAIGHT OUT.'
On May 26, 1994, at 0940 central daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N73846, collided with trees and a mobile home during a go- around at a private airstrip in Hartford, Alabama. The flight instructor and his dual student were not injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The aircraft was operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by Jerry P. Holman of Hartford. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the instructional flight. The flight originated in Crestview, Florida, at 0855. The instructor reported that on short final for landing, a gust of wind was encountered, which resulted in a drift to the right. The non-rated student pilot was at the controls during the approach. Full power was added, and a go-around was initiated by the instructor. During the go-around, the right wing tip contacted trees. Control of the aircraft was lost, and the aircraft collided with the roof of a mobile home, which was located adjacent to the runway. The weather observation facility at Ozark, Alabama (about 21 miles northeast of the accident site), reported surface winds from 250 degrees, at 11 knots, with gusts to 16 knots. The observation was recorded about 15 minutes after the time of the accident. While in the traffic pattern at Hartford, both pilots observed the wind sock indicating variable wind directions, and the sock was "straight out." An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration reported that the approach path to the runway from the east is through a very narrow gap in the trees. He reported that landing further down the runway would have offered more room (for maneuvering).
THE STUDENT PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR GUSTING WIND CONDITIONS DURING THE APPROACH TO LAND. FACTORS WERE THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF HIS STUDENT, THE GUSTING WIND CONDITIONS, AND THE TREES LOCATED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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