Cessna 172K N78189

Summary

On 21 December 2003 at about 19:30 local time, a Cessna 172K registered N78189 was involved in an accident near Grand Saline, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 December 2003 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Grand Saline, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Brady Airport (5XS5)

Coordinates

32.5428, -95.7089

Aircraft

Cessna 172K

Registration

N78189

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Jackson → Grand Saline

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW04FA045

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while on final approach. Factors were the high winds and prevailing crosswind.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot failed to maintain directional control while on final approach to runway 22 (2,000-foot-long and 50-foot-wide turf runway) at a private airstrip. A witness, who lived at the private airport, was standing outside of her home when she first heard the airplane on final approach. She reported the sound of the engine was similar to when an airplane would cross over the runway threshold during landing. When she looked up, she noticed that the airplane was "way, way, low", and to the right of the runway centerline. The witness observed the airplane as it descended in a nose down angle into trees, followed by the sound of an impact. In addition, the witness stated that crosswinds prevailed at the time of the accident. Weather reported at an airport 19 miles east of the accident site were winds from 190 degrees at 19 knots gusting to 29 knots. The National Weather Service had issued a wind advisory, which included the county where the accident occurred and was in effect at the time of the accident. The wind advisory included south winds that would increase to 20 to 30 miles per hour by late morning with higher gusts. No mechanical deficiencies were found with the airplane or engine.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.