NTSB ERA20CA114 — 2020-02-26 · Everglades City, Florida, United States

Current FAA registration · N291RP

Make / Model: CESSNA 172P
Year of manufacture: 1981 · 39 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING O-320-D2J (160 hp)
Seats / Engines: 4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 20161209
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A2FAB6

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N291RP Cessna 172 None

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during the landing flare in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in the left wing striking the runway.

Factual narrative

According to the pilot, while on final approach to runway 15, about 5 ft above the runway, a "strong gust of crosswind" from the right resulted in the airplane's left wing striking the runway. The pilot reduced engine power and landed the airplane without further anomaly. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. According to the pilot, while on final approach to the runway and about 3 to 4 ft above ground level, the airplane encountered a "strong gust cross wind" from the right, which resulted in the left wing striking the runway and sustaining substantial damage. The pilot reduced engine power and landed the airplane without further incident. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-(general)-Not attained/maintained - C
C Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Effect on operation - C
C Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Effect on operation - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2020_ERA20CA114.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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