FTW95LA017

Factual narrative

On October 13, 1994, at 1440 mountain daylight time, N20384, a Cessna 172M, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at Farmington, New Mexico. The airline transport rated pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The following is based on the pilot's report. He made a normal no-flap approach and landing on runway 07, using the VASI (visual approach slope indicator). The wind was reported to be from 100 degrees at 18 knots, then changed to be variable from 090 degrees to 110 degrees at 20 knots and gusting. After touching down, a strong wind gust caused the nose to pitch up. He applied full power in an attempt to go around, but the nose pitched down. The nosewheel struck the ground and collapsed, and the airplane skidded to a halt. ATIS (automatic terminal information service) information Uniform was current at the time of the accident. According to the broadcast, the wind was from 110 degrees at 20 knots, with gusts to 30 knots, and a wind shear alert was in effect. THE PILOT MADE A NORMAL NO-FLAP APPROACH AND LANDING ON RUNWAY 7. ATIS REPORTED THAT THE WIND WAS FROM 110 DEGREES AT 20 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 30 KNOTS, AND A WIND SHEAR ALERT WAS IN EFFECT. AFTER THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN, A STRONG WIND GUST CAUSED THE NOSE TO PITCH UP. THE PILOT APPLIED FULL POWER IN AN ATTEMPT TO GO AROUND, BUT THE NOSE PITCHED DOWN, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND AND THE NOSE WHEEL COLLAPSED. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12