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WPR14CA274

2014-05-19 · Buckeye, Arizona, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport BXK

Current FAA registration · N1590W

Make / Model
CESSNA 172R
Year of manufacture
2005 · 9 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING IO-360-L2A (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20051104
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A0EE0B

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that at the last moment before touchdown a sudden gust of wind abruptly pushed the airplane to the left side of the runway. Able to maintain control with rudder input, after landing the pilot exited the runway, and parked the airplane. The pilot conducted a visual examination of the airplane and detected no anomalies. He then departed to practice maneuvers before returning to the home base airport. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that both propeller blade tips were damaged, the fuselage skin was wrinkled, and the firewall had sustained substantial damage as a result of a hard landing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that at the last moment before touchdown a sudden gust of wind abruptly pushed the airplane to the left side of the runway. Able to maintain control with rudder input, after landing the pilot exited the runway, and parked the airplane. The pilot conducted a visual examination of the airplane and detected no anomalies. He then departed to practice maneuvers before returning to the home base airport. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that both propeller blade tips were damaged, the fuselage skin was wrinkled, and the firewall had sustained substantial damage as a result of a hard landing. The pilot reported no preimpact 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-Landing flare-Incorrect use/operation - C
  • — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Effect on operation

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2014_WPR14CA274.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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