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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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September 11, 2003 · Cessna 172M · N9651Q

Ardmore, OK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 11, 2003
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Ardmore, OK
Aircraft
Cessna 172M
Tail Number
N9651Q
Operator
Litchfield Flying
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW03LA220

The aircraft collided with trees while in the airport traffic pattern. According to the pilot, he encountered a downdraft while turning left base for a landing to the runway. Runway 17 is 5,000 feet long and 75 feet wide. Wind was reported by the weather observation facility at 1F0 to be from the southeast at 9 to 11 knots, with gusts to 16 knots. Official sunset was calculated by the Astronomical Applications Department of the U.S. Naval Observatory to be 1943.

NTSB Probable Cause

The failure of the pilot to adequately compensate for existing wind conditions. A contributing factor was the gusty crosswind conditions from the east.

Full Narrative

On September 10, 2003, about 1935 central daylight time, a Cessna 172M single-engine airplane, N9651Q, was substantially damaged when it impacted the ground following a loss of control while landing at Ardmore Downtown Executive Airport (1F0) near Ardmore, Oklahoma. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, received minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by Litchfield Flying Ltd., of Ardmore, Oklahoma. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight, which departed 1F0 approximately 1835. In a written statement to the FAA, the 43-hour pilot, who was a visiting German citizen, stated that the airplane "experienced a sudden downdraft" while turning left base for landing to runway 17, and "the next thing I remember, I was sitting in a tree." Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, revealed that the airplane collided with a tree in a residential yard before impacting the ground. The airplane incurred major structural damage to the fuselage, wings, and flight controls. The accident site was located west of the centerline of runway 17, abeam the airport boundary. Runway 17 is 5,000 feet long and 75 feet wide. Wind was reported by the weather observation facility at 1F0 to be from the southeast at 9 to 11 knots, with gusts to 16 knots. Official sunset was calculated by the Astronomical Applications Department of the U.S. Naval Observatory to be 1943.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:35 CDT
Nearest AirportArdmore Downtown Executive (0.5nm NNW)
Runway17
Runway Length5000 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172M
Tail NumberN9651Q
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorLitchfield Flying
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-E2D · Reciprocating · 150
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 32 · Third Class · Minor

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDusk
Wind140° @ 9 kt, gusting 16 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point70 F
Altimeter29.88 inHg
Observation Time23:29
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data