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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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April 6, 1996 · Cessna 172 · N62038

Sedona, AZ

Overview

Report Status
Factual report
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 6, 1996
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (3 uninjured)
Location
Sedona, AZ
Aircraft
Cessna 172
Tail Number
N62038
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX96LA157

The pilot said that he encountered a dust devil when he flared the airplane for landing. He applied power, but the left wing and nose dropped and contacted the runway. A ground witness said that the airplane's left wing dropped when the pilot flared the airplane, but he did not report any dust devil activity in the area. He said that the surface winds were less than 5 knots. The AWOS reported the surface winds at 6 knots, gusting to 15 knots.

Full Narrative

On April 6, 1996, at 1015 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 172, N62038, left wing contacted the asphalt surface while landing on runway 03 at Sedona Airport, Sedona, Arizona. The pilot was completing a visual flight rules personal flight. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. Neither the certificated private pilot nor his two passengers were injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Deer Valley Airport, Phoenix, Arizona, about 0900 hours. A ground witness reported that he observed the airplane landing on runway 03. When the airplane began to flare, the left wing dropped and it contacted the runway, followed by the nose landing gear. He said that the surface winds were less than 5 knots. The airport's automated weather observation system (AWOS) showed that the surface winds were from 020 degrees at 6 knots, gusting to 15 knots. The pilot said in a telephone interview conducted on April 6, 1996, at 1030 hours, that he entered the traffic pattern from over the airport. He said that he received the landing information before he entered the traffic pattern and while on final approach. When he flared the airplane about 10 feet above the ground, the airplane encountered a dust devil which pushed the airplane to the right. The pilot applied power to execute a go-around, but the left wing dropped and contacted the runway, followed by the nose landing gear. The pilot also said that the airplane did not experience any preimpact malfunctions or failures.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:15 MST
Nearest AirportSEDONA (0nm)
Runway3
Runway Length5100 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172
Tail NumberN62038
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-D2J · Reciprocating · 160
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (3 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total3
Crew 1Age 65 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind20° @ 6 kt, gusting 15 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time17:21
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data