Cessna 172N N734PW

Summary

On 7 July 2004 at about 14:00 local time, a Cessna 172N registered N734PW was involved in an accident near Chemehuevi, California, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 July 2004 at 14:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Chemehuevi, California, United States

Nearest airport

Chemehuevi Valley (49X)

Coordinates

34.5175, -114.4181

Aircraft

Cessna 172N

Registration

N734PW

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Chemehuevi → Lake HavasuCity

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX04CA255

1 person had minor injuries.

the pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing, inadequate compensation for the wind conditions, and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The student pilot bounced the airplane upon touchdown and lost directional control with a prevailing quartering tailwind. The airplane veered off the side of the runway, rolled into an embankment, and nosed over. Days earlier, the student's certified flight instructor had authorized the student to practice takeoffs and landings at the airport. The accident occurred after the student had flown for about 50 minutes. During his third landing on the 5,000-foot-long by 75-foot-wide runway 34, with 20 degrees of wing flaps extended, the pilot encountered a quartering tailwind. The airplane initially touched down on its left main landing gear. Thereafter, the airplane bounced, and the right main landing gear contacted the runway. Although the student increased engine power and pulled the control yoke aft, his overall efforts to maintain control were inadequate. From 8 minutes before to 12 minutes after the accident, the wind direction and speed were reported at an airport 5 miles from the site as varying from 150 to 190 degrees, and from 3 and 6 knots. No wind gusts were reported. The student's total solo flying experience was 13 hours.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.