On July 6, 1998, a Cessna 172N (registration N5103D) operated by National Aviation Services Inc was involved in an aviation accident near Yoakum, TX. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing with a crosswind, which resulted in the aircraft leaving the runway surface. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 9 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
Aircraft registered N5103D. Photo: Steve Lynes from Sandshurst, United Kingdom / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A student pilot on a solo cross-country flight lost directional control upon landing with a right crosswind, causing the aircraft to drift off the runway and strike a sign.
What happened
The incident occurred during the landing phase of a solo cross-country flight conducted by a student pilot. As the aircraft touched down on the runway, conditions included a right crosswind. Shortly after touchdown, the pilot allowed the airplane to drift toward the left side of the runway surface. Consequently, the left main wheel departed the paved surface.
Following this initial departure, the aircraft veered sharply to the right. It exited the right side of the runway and subsequently impacted a runway identification sign located near the pavement edge. The event resulted in damage to the airplane and the sign.
Probable cause
The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing with a crosswind, which resulted in the aircraft leaving the runway surface.
