FARMINGTON, NM, USA
N757VK
CESSNA 152
THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED THAT SHE WAS EXECUTING A NORMAL CROSSWIND LANDING ON RUNWAY 23, WHEN A 'GUST' OF WIND CAUSED THE AIRPLANE TO 'BALLOON' AND VEER TO THE LEFT. THE AIRPLANE RAN OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH AN AIRPORT SIGN/MARKER. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, ATIS INFORMATION REPORTED THE WINDS TO BE FROM 290 DEGREES AT 20 GUSTING 30 KNOTS. AFTER THE ACCIDENT AT 1347, THE WIND WAS FROM 310 DEGREES AT 15 GUSTING 25 KNOTS. THE PILOT'S TOTAL FLIGHT TIME AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS 58.8 HOURS.
On July 4, 1995, approximately 1330 central daylight time, a Cessna 152, N757VK, was substantially damaged during landing at Four Corners Regional Airport, Farmington, New Mexico. The solo student pilot was not injured. The airplane, owned by the pilot's flight instructor pilot, Shanna M. Clark, was being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The instructional cross country flight originated at Gallup, New Mexico, and was returning to Farmington. A visual flight rules flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The student pilot reported that, she was executing a "normal cross wind landing" to runway 23, when a "gust" of wind caused the airplane to "balloon" and veer left during the landing roll. Subsequently, she lost directional control and the aircraft came to rest on the left side of the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed structural damage to the fuselage. According to the pilot, the Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) reported the winds to be from 290 degrees at 20 knots, gusting to 30. The pilot's total flight time at the time of the accident was 58.8 hours.
THE STUDENT PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS DURING THE LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN HER FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER RUNWAY ALIGNMENT. THE GUSTY CROSSWIND WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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