Accident Overview
On March 21, 2011, at 1322 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172N, registration N739DG, operated by Amehigh LLC under 14 CFR Part 91, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain during landing on runway 12 at Spanish Fork Airport, Spanish Fork, Utah. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local solo training flight, which had originated approximately 20 minutes before the accident. No flight plan had been filed.
Pilot's Account
The pilot reported that he was practicing for his private pilot check ride scheduled for March 25, 2011. After performing a preflight inspection, he delayed departure due to reported high wind conditions at Provo, Utah, 5 nautical miles away, where he planned to practice landings. He waited about an hour, but wind speeds at Provo continued to increase. Noting that at Spanish Fork the wind was down the runway, he decided to depart for local practice takeoffs and landings.
During his first landing on runway 12, the airplane bounced and encountered a “microburst or intense wind.” The pilot lost control, and the airplane departed the left side of the runway. It cartwheeled several times and impacted an airport perimeter fence. Both wings and the empennage were wrinkled and bent, and the engine separated from its mounts.
Weather Conditions
The wind reported at 1250 at Provo, located 5 nautical miles northwest of the accident site, was from 200 degrees at 16 knots gusting to 26 knots. An hour later, at 1350, reported winds were from 200 degrees at 22 knots gusting to 40 knots. For runway 12, this wind would have resulted in a right steady state crosswind component of 21 knots and gust component of 38 knots. Spanish Fork does not have a weather reporting facility on the airport.
Witness Statements
A witness observed the airplane taxi for takeoff and heard it depart. About five minutes later, as he prepared to leave the airport, the wind “came up” and shook his hangar, rattling the door. He estimated the wind was blowing at 40 to 50 knots and gusting violently. Approximately ten minutes later, he heard about the crash. Another witness, watching from about half a mile away, stated that the wind was so strong it rocked his truck.
Mechanical Condition
The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions.