On April 6, 1996, a Cessna 172 (registration N62038) was involved in an aviation accident near Sedona, AZ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot misjudged the flare. 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.
A pilot reported encountering a dust devil while flaring for landing, resulting in the left wing and nose dropping and contacting the runway. A witness observed the wing drop but no dust devil; surface winds were light.
Incident Details
The pilot reported that during the landing flare, the aircraft encountered a dust devil. In response, the pilot applied power, but the left wing and nose dropped and made contact with the runway.
Witness Accounts
A ground witness observed that the left wing dropped when the pilot flared the airplane. However, the witness did not report any dust devil activity in the area. The witness stated that surface winds were less than 5 knots at the time.
Weather Observations
The Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) reported surface winds at 6 knots, gusting to 15 knots.
What happened in the 6 Apr 1996 Cessna 172 accident near Sedona, AZ?
A pilot reported encountering a dust devil while flaring for landing, resulting in the left wing and nose dropping and contacting the runway. A witness observed the wing drop but no dust devil; surface winds were light.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 6 Apr 1996 involved a Cessna 172, registration N62038, at Sedona, AZ.
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