No fatalities

Cessna 172 Nose Over During Landing Roll in Gusty Crosswind

Diamond Point, WA, United States

On December 6, 2009, a CESSNA 172M operated by Carl Peecher was involved in an aviation accident near Diamond Point, WA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadequate compensation for the variable and unfavorable wind conditions. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot landing at a non-controlled airport experienced a right crosswind gust during the landing roll, causing the right wing to lift. The airplane scraped a wing, rotated, and nosed over. No flight control issues were reported.

Incident Overview

A pilot was landing at a non-controlled airport when variable gusty winds were present. During the final approach, the aircraft encountered a right crosswind along with both updrafts and downdrafts while crossing over a cliff under the flight path. The touchdown was uneventful, but as the airplane slowed during the landing roll, a right crosswind gust lifted the right wing.

Sequence of Events

Despite the pilot's remedial flight control inputs and addition of power, the left wing scraped the runway surface. The airplane then rotated to the left, exposing it to a nearly direct tailwind. As the pilot attempted to regain control, the airplane nosed over onto its back.

Pilot Statement

According to the pilot, there was no indication of any problem with the flight control or nose wheel steering systems. The pilot also stated that winds from the north were unusual for this airport and that she had based her assumptions about expected runway conditions on the normal westerly or southeasterly winds.

Contributing factors

Causes

Crosswind correction — Not attained/maintainedPilot

Other contributing factors

Response/compensation

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 6 Dec 2009 CESSNA 172M accident near Diamond Point, WA?

A pilot landing at a non-controlled airport experienced a right crosswind gust during the landing roll, causing the right wing to lift. The airplane scraped a wing, rotated, and nosed over. No flight control issues were reported.

Were there any fatalities in the 6 Dec 2009 CESSNA 172M accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 6 Dec 2009 involved a CESSNA 172M, operated by Carl Peecher, at Diamond Point, WA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the variable and unfavorable wind conditions.