On June 21, 1983, a Cessna 172 (registration N736UH) was involved in an aviation accident near Wickenburg, AZ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain control during landing due to a wind gust that raised the left wing during flare, resulting in the aircraft departing the runway. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
An aircraft departed the runway during landing on runway 23 after a wind gust raised the left wing during flare, causing the plane to collide with a ditch and collapse the landing gear.
What happened
The aircraft departed the runway during the landing phase. The pilot reported that during the final approach, the windsock did not indicate a crosswind condition. The landing was executed on runway 23 with 10 degrees of flaps deployed. According to the pilot's account, a gust of wind raised the left wing during the flare, which caused the aircraft to leave the paved surface. The aircraft then collided with a ditch, resulting in the collapse of both the right main gear and the nose gear. The reported wind conditions at the time were from 210 degrees at 10-15 knots.
Findings
The investigation identified that the wind gust raised the left wing during the critical flare phase of landing. This aerodynamic disturbance caused the aircraft to deviate from the runway centerline and depart the paved surface. The collision with the ditch subsequently led to structural damage, specifically the collapse of the landing gear assembly.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control during landing due to a wind gust that raised the left wing during flare, resulting in the aircraft departing the runway.
What happened in the 21 Jun 1983 Cessna 172 accident near Wickenburg, AZ?
An aircraft departed the runway during landing on runway 23 after a wind gust raised the left wing during flare, causing the plane to collide with a ditch and collapse the landing gear.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 21 Jun 1983 involved a Cessna 172, registration N736UH, at Wickenburg, AZ.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The pilot's failure to maintain control during landing due to a wind gust that raised the left wing during flare, resulting in the aircraft departing the runway.
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