Probable cause
The student pilot’s inadequate compensation for a crosswind during landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control and a runway excursion.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot was conducting a solo cross-country training flight, and reported that while touching down on the runway, a gust of wind pushed the airplane to the left. The pilot attempted to compensate by applying right rudder, but it was not effective. The airplane came to rest on the left side of the runway, inverted, and sustained substantial damage to the right wing, empennage, and rudder. The pilot was seriously injured. While the pilot initially reported that he thought there might have been an issue with the airplane’s right rudder not functioning properly, he later stated that the airplane was functioning as designed.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA21LA168 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Mar 31, 2021
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Crystal River, Florida
- Nearest airport
- Crystal River-Capt Tom Davis F (CGC)
- Highest injury
- Serious
- Serious injuries
- 1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172
- N-number
- N13632
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1974
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.