AUGUSTA, ME, USA
N3799L
CESSNA 172G
THIS WAS THE STUDENT PILOT'S THIRD SOLO CROSS COUNTRY. WHILE ON FINAL FOR RUNWAY 35, THE PILOT CORRECTED FOR A LEFT CROSSWIND. DURING THE FLARE, A GUST OF WIND PICKED UP THE LEFT WING AND THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT CORRECTED WITH RUDDER AND AILERON CONTROLS AND ATTAINED RUNWAY CENTERLINE ALIGNMENT. A SECOND GUST OF WIND LIFTED THE LEFT WING AND THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT ABOUT HALF WAY OFF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT ELECTED TO ABORT THE LANDING. THE LEFT WING CONTINUED TO RISE, AND THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT. THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE GROUND AND THE AIRPLANE PIVOTED 180 DEG. THE WINDS AT AUGUSTA, AT 0951 AND 1018 RESPECTIVELY, WERE 260 DEG AT 10 KTS, AND 290 DEG AT 9 KTS.
On April 25, 1995, about 1008 eastern daylight time, a Cessna, 172G, N3799L, was substantially damaged during landing at Augusta State Airport (AUG), Augusta, Maine. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. There was a flight plan for the flight being conducted under CFR 14 Part 91. The pilot stated that this was his third solo cross country flight, and he had intended to do the long cross country flight, a requirement for a Private Pilot Certificate. In the NTSB form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated, ...I radioed intent to land on runway 35 at Augusta (AUG) when I was 10 miles out....I turned onto and radioed final approach for runway 35. I then felt a few small crosswind gusts from my left (west). I jiggled the rudder pedals to verify good control and dropped left wing slightly and cross controlled right rudder. I noted airspeed of about 70 MPH and dropped nose to increase speed some. I leveled plane as I flared. Westerly wind gust lifted left wing and pushed plane to right side of runway. I turned left and went back to centerline. Gust also caused plane to lift/balloon some. A second gust again lifted left wing and pushed plane half off paved section. I decided to abort the landing and pushed in for full throttle. Left wing was still high and plane veered to the right. I turned yoke hard left with no effect. [The] right wing tip struck the ground, plane pivoted 180 degrees, came to the ground and skidded on its left side across a taxiway, then stopped with left and front landing gear torn off.... The pilot further stated, "I was told by other pilot's at [the] crash site that winds were gusting to 21 knots. My duats report made no mention of this." The winds at AUG, at 0951 and 1018 respectively, were from 260 degrees at 10 knots, and 290 degrees at 9 knots. Post accident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, revealed no discrepancies.
THE STUDENT PILOT'S DELAY IN ABORTING THE LANDING ATTEMPT. THE CROSSWIND, AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE CROSSWIND WERE FACTORS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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