Commerce Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Commerce, Texas 75428
Friday, July 24, 1998 10:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During landing on runway 18 with a right crosswind, the private pilot lost control of the airplane. Upon touchdown, the airplane bounced, and according to the pilot, the wind 'got under' the right wing. The left wing tip touched the runway, and the airplane turned to the left. Although the pilot initially added power to go around, when he realized it was not possible to clear the tree line ahead, he reduced power and landed the airplane. During the ground roll, the airplane collided with the trees. The pilot reported the wind was from 240 degrees at 17 knots gusting to 20 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind resulting in a loss of control. A factor was the crosswind.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/24/1998
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1000
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City COMMERCE
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 75428
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport COMMERCE MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 2F7
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 516
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 17
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 952
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 24 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1600
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Feb 23 2001 1:55PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3743R
NTSB Number FTW98LA318
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172H
Aircraft Series Identifier 172H
Aircraft Serial Number 17255543
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 14 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 81
Airframe Hours 2885
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name G.A. MERWORTH
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4534 COUNTY ROAD 3416
Aircraft Owner City LONE OAK
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 75453
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code GVT
Departure City GREENVILLE
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 915
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 2F7
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 23 2001 1:55PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 3900
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --