No fatalities

29 Mar 2009: CESSNA 150L — N4172P Inc. — Brunswick, GA

Brunswick, GA, United States

On 29 Mar 2009, a CESSNA 150L operated by N4172P Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Brunswick, GA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while landing in gusting crosswinds. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 13 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A student pilot on a solo flight stalled after a gust lifted the airplane during a crosswind landing, resulting in a nose-low impact with the runway.

Incident Overview

A student pilot, conducting a solo flight to practice landings, remained in the traffic pattern for runway 22. Prior to the initial takeoff, the pilot obtained a weather report indicating a wind speed of 8 knots. After completing two touch-and-go landings, the pilot obtained another weather advisory, which reported wind from 270 degrees at 17 knots, gusting to 25 knots.

Approach and Landing

For the third landing, the pilot set up an approach at 85 knots to account for the gust factor. After touching down at approximately 55 knots, a gust of wind lifted the airplane 10 to 15 feet in the air. The airplane subsequently stalled, and the pilot's recovery attempt was not successful from that low altitude.

Impact and Damage

The airplane contacted the runway in a nose-low attitude. The impact resulted in damage to the firewall, collapse of the nose landing gear, and the propeller striking the runway.

Pilot Limitations

The student pilot's logbook was endorsed for solo flight with a limitation that flights be conducted in crosswind conditions not to exceed 10 knots.

Contributing factors

Student pilot