Accident Details
A Cessna 172N landed in a grass area adjacent to Runway 28L. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the solo student pilot was unable to correct for a strong wind and touched down south of the runway. At the time of the accident, winds were reported from 360 degrees at 17 knots.
Pilot Experience
The student pilot indicated on his Pilot/Operator Accident Report that he had accumulated a total of 15 hours of flight experience, of which 4.1 hours were as pilot-in-command (PIC). The pilot was flying solo at the time of the incident.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft was a Cessna 172N. The Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) for this model states: "The maximum allowable crosswind velocity is dependent upon pilot capability as well as aircraft limitations. With the average pilot technique, direct crosswinds of 15 knots can be handled with safety." The reported wind of 17 knots exceeded this guideline.
No damage or injuries were reported in the source.