Columbia, KY, USA
N64144
CESSNA 172
The pilot reported that, while on his second attempt to land in gusting wind conditions, the airplane was "tossed" up and then a "downdraft" caused the airplane to "descend rapidly." He added full power; however, the airplane landed hard, the nose and right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the weather at the accident site, about the time of the accident, was wind variable at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots. The pilot landed on about a 310° heading.
The pilot reported that while on his second attempt to land in gusting wind conditions, the airplane was "tossed" up and then a "downdraft" caused the airplane to "descend rapidly". He added full power, however the airplane landed hard, the nose and right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported the weather at the accident site, about the time of the accident, as wind variable at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots. The pilot landed on about a 310° heading.
The pilot’s failure to maintain a flare during landing in variable, gusting wind conditions.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
