Cessna 172 N35719 accident near Clarion, Iowa

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing flare in a crosswind with gusts.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that during landing at the destination airport, with the left and right main landing gear on the runway and the nose wheel elevated for the flare, she felt a gust of wind that “push[ed] the airplane suddenly to the right.” The pilot attempted to perform a go-around, however the airplane bounced twice, exited the runway to the right, impacted a dirt field, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, and the empennage. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing on runway 31 with wind 270° at 23 knots, and with gusts from 30 to 35 knots.

The pilot further reported that the accident could have been prevented by having “better situational awareness” of the wind conditions at the destination airport.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN24LA123 for the full record.