9 Aug 2008: Cessna 172S — Flight Training of Mobile

9 Aug 2008: Cessna 172S — Flight Training of Mobile

No fatalities • Monroeville, AL, United States

Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for winds during landing. Contributing to the accident was a wind gust.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

The student pilot stated that she was on a solo cross-country flight to Monroe County Airport (MVC), Monroeville, Alabama. She said that she checked the Automated Service Observing System (ASOS) weather at Middleton Field Airport (GZH), Evergreen, Alabama, prior to landing. She added that the GZH ASOS reported winds variable at 3 knots gusting to 14 knots. Review of the 1353 GZH weather revealed that winds were variable at 5 knots and clear. The student pilot went on to say that while passing over the runway threshold, a strong gust of wind pushed the airplane down to the ground, causing the airplane to land hard and bending the nose gear aft. The pilot did not report experiencing any flight control or mechanical anomalies prior to the accident. Examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the firewall and underbelly of the airplane were buckled.

Contributing factors

  • cause Performance/control parameters — Not attained/maintained
  • cause Pilot
  • cause Response/compensation
  • factor Effect on operation

Conditions

Weather
VMC, wind 000/05kt, vis 10sm

Related events

Same aircraft

  • 20 Apr 2026 — CESSNA 172S (VISTA AVIATION INC)
  • 13 Apr 2026 — CESSNA 172S (CHRISTIANSEN AVIATION LLC)
  • 11 Apr 2026 — CESSNA 172S (PHOENIX EAST AVIATION LLC)
  • 1 Mar 2026 — CESSNA 172S (CHAPEL HILL FLYING CLUB INC DBA)
  • 28 Feb 2026 — CESSNA 172S (Aspen Flying Club)

Same operator

  • 13 Jul 2010 — CESSNA 172 A (Flight Training of Mobile)

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