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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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NTSB Report

March 17, 2003 · Cessna 172M · N64427

Idaho Falls, ID

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 17, 2003
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Idaho Falls, ID
Aircraft
Cessna 172M
Tail Number
N64427
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
SEA03LA047

The student pilot had taken off and was practicing touch and go landings on runway 20. The winds at the time and location of the accident were reported as 340 degrees magnetic at 17 knots with gusts to 21 knots. After executing a go around due to the wind conditions, he initiated another approach and encountered the same conditions with greater magnitude. He initiated another go around during which the aircraft drifted right, and as he pitched the nose up, the aircraft's left horizontal stabilizer impacted a runway light.

NTSB Probable Cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain proper runway alignment (centerline tracking) during a go around maneuver resulting in the aircraft impacting a runway light. Contributing factors were the gusty/crosswind conditions and the light fixture.

Full Narrative

On March 17, 2003, at 1053 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172M, N64427, registered to/operated by Avcenter, Inc., and being flown by a student pilot, sustained substantial damage when the aircraft impacted a runway light on a go around at Fanning Field, Idaho Falls, Idaho. The pilot was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was instructional, was operated under 14 CFR 91 and originated at Fanning Field at 1040. The student pilot, who was on his second solo flight, reported that he was conducting touch and go landings on runway 20 at Fanning Field, when he encountered left gusting crosswinds on the first approach while descending through about 150 feet above ground. He executed a go around and on his second approach encountered the same conditions with greater magnitude. The student reported that on this approach he was "...offset to the left & upon correcting went offset to the right and my heading was across the field. I gave the plane full power proceeded to clean up the plane and pitched up to do a flyover. As I pitched up the empennage went down enough to hit a runway light with the left stabilizer...." The student pilot continued climbing out, returned and landed successfully on runway 02. Surface winds reported at Fanning Field at 1053 were from 340 degrees magnetic at 17 knots with gusts to 21 knots.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:53 MST
Nearest AirportFanning Field (0nm)
Runway20
Runway Length9001 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172M
Tail NumberN64427
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-320-E2D · Reciprocating · 150
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 43 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind340° @ 17 kt, gusting 21 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point39 C / 25 C
Altimeter29.68 inHg
Observation Time17:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data