On July 31, 1991, a Cessna 172N (registration N2946E) operated by Aerovision, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Sedona, AZ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain control during the landing flare due to wind gusts, which resulted in the aircraft drifting off the runway and colliding with an obstacle. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A student pilot on a supervised solo flight encountered wind gusts during the landing flare, causing the aircraft to balloon off the runway and collide with terrain.
What happened
The incident occurred during a supervised solo flight conducted by a student pilot. The pilot intended to return to the airport of departure for landing. During the final approach phase, specifically while executing the landing flare, the pilot encountered a gust of wind. This wind shear caused the aircraft to balloon upward and remain airborne longer than intended. In response to the excessive altitude and airspeed, the pilot applied additional engine power.
Following this maneuver, the aircraft drifted laterally off the paved surface. The runway in question was 75 feet wide and 5,131 feet long. After leaving the runway environment, the airplane collided with a tree and subsequently impacted terrain.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control during the landing flare due to wind gusts, which resulted in the aircraft drifting off the runway and colliding with an obstacle.
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