Flagstaff Pulliam Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Flagstaff, Arizona 86004
Sunday, May 17, 2009 11:40 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The purpose of the flight was for the student pilot to complete his first solo cross-country flight as a step toward obtaining his private pilot certificate. He touched down normally at the first airport on his three-leg flight. While on the landing roll, the airplane encountered a strong gust of wind, resulting in the airplane veering to the left. Despite the pilot's control inputs, the airplane continued to the left and departed the runway surface, impacting a dirt berm adjacent to the runway. The nose landing gear subsequently collapsed, resulting in firewall damage. The wind velocity was reported at 3 knots, gusting to 15 knots. The operator reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The student pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusty wind conditions and failure to maintain directional control during landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/17/2009
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1140
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Flagstaff
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 86004
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 350819N
Event Location Longitude 1114016W
Event Location Airport Flagstaff Pulliam
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FLG
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 7011
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1130 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID FLG
Elevation of weather observation facility 7011
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
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) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 15
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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) 25603
NTSB Notification Source FAA 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 Jun 22 2009 4:38PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N541ER
NTSB Number WPR09CA266
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172S
Aircraft Series Identifier S
Aircraft Serial Number 172S10521
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
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 Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection May 3 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 16
Airframe Hours 1664
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name AVN AIR LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Danbury
Aircraft Owner State CT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 06810
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Prescott
Operator State AZ
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 86301
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PRC
Departure City Prescott
Departure State AZ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1055
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code FLG
Destination City Flagstaff
Destination State AZ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 22 2009 4:39PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 21
Runway Length 8800
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --