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Atlas / NTSB / WPR22LA161

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event WPR22LA161

2022-04-20 Blanding, Utah, United States Airport · BDG Minor 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s improper landing flare which, resulted in a bounced landing and loss of airplane control during an aborted landing in gusty wind conditions.

Factual narrative

The student pilot reported that, during a solo cross-country flight while attempting a landing, the airplane bounced, and a gust of wind raised the right wing. The pilot was able to level the wings, when another gust pushed the airplane off course to the left. The pilot applied full throttle and was able to avoid a barbed wired fence, but then the airplane’s wheels struck wheeled crop irrigation equipment, which resulted in the airplane nosing over, and coming to rest inverted on the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported no preaccident malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

  • Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Effect on equipment
  • Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Student/instructed pilot
  • Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Not attained/maintained
  • Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of equip/system-Student/instructed pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2022_WPR22LA161.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.