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CEN10CA212

2010-04-17 · Coldwater, Kansas, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport 3K8

Current FAA registration · N81772

Make / Model
CESSNA 172M
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S AB26C5

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to compensate for gusting crosswinds resultuing in the loss of directional control while landing.

Factual narrative

The private pilot was landing his single-engine airplane in a crosswind when he encountered a wind gust of 15-20 knots during the landing flare. The airplane went off the left side of the runway and the left horizontal stabilizer struck a precision approach path indicator light, which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot reported that he should have anticipated a higher crosswind component and possible gusts during the landing. The private pilot was landing his single-engine airplane in a crosswind when he encountered a wind gust of 15-20 knots during the landing flare. The airplane went off the left side of the runway and the left horizontal stabilizer struck a precision approach path indicator light, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot reported that he should have anticipated a higher crosswind component and possible gusts during the landing. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Lack of action-Pilot - C
  • C Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Response/compensation - C
  • C Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Response/compensation - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2010_CEN10CA212.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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