Event FTW97LA104

Factual narrative

On February 16, 1997, at 1239 central standard time, a Cessna 172M was substantially damaged following a lost of control while landing near San Antonio, Texas. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained minor injuries. The airplane was owned and operated by Wright Flyers Inc., of San Antonio, Texas, on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight for which a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated from the San Antonio International Airport, at approximately 1130. According to the pilot, "he had not flown for over a year, so he elected to rent an airplane and fly to the Stinson Municipal Airport to practice some takeoffs and landings." The pilot reported to the FAA inspector that while on his fifth approach to a full stop landing on runway 14, "he found himself high for landing and allowed his airspeed to get too slow after he configured the airplane with full flaps." The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions and stated that he did not hear the sound of the stall warning horn. On the enclosed NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that "a gust of wind flipped the right wing upward, sending the airplane into a diving turn to the left." The left wing separated from the airframe after the airplane impacted the door of a hangar located on the east side of the runway. The hangar sustained minor damage and a cowling on the airplane parked in the hangar was damaged. The private pilot, who received his private pilot certificate in 1973, had accumulated a total of 157 hours. His last flight, which was also his last BFR, was performed on February 25, 1996. The private pilot had not flown for over a year, so he elected to rent an airplane and fly to a nearby airport to practice takeoffs and landings. The pilot reported that while on his fifth approach to a full stop landing on runway 14, 'he found himself high for landing and allowed his airspeed to get too slow after he configured the airplane with full flaps.' According to the pilot: 'a gust of wind flipped the right wing upward, sending the airplane into a diving turn to the left.' The left wing separated from the airframe after the airplane impacted the door of a hangar located on the east side of the runway. The winds at the time of the accident were reported as calm. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunction and stated that he did not hear the sound of the stall warning horn. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12