Ryan Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tucson, Arizona 85735
Wednesday, April 22, 2009 13:15 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Just prior to rotation speed during takeoff, the airplane veered sharply to the left, departed the runway, and encountered soft sand. The reported weather around the time of the accident showed that the 80-degree left crosswind was at 9 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or system failure with the airplane prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s inadequate compensation for the gusting crosswinds.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/22/2009
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1315
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Tucson
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85735
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 320819N
Event Location Longitude 1111017W
Event Location Airport Ryan Field Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID RYN
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 2417
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1246 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID RYN
Elevation of weather observation facility 2417
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 33
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 18
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.95
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 25509
NTSB Notification Source FAA WP Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 14 2009 11:21AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3880S
NTSB Number WPR09CA210
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172E
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17251080
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Oct 7 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 6
Airframe Hours 2739
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERT LEHRKE
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City ALBUQUERQUE
Aircraft Owner State NM
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 87114-5760
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name ROBERT LEHRKE
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City ALBUQUERQUE
Operator State NM
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 87114-5760
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code RYN
Departure City Tucson
Departure State AZ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1315
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code RYN
Destination City Tucson
Destination State AZ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 14 2009 11:22AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 24L
Runway Length 4900
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --