Cessna 172 N3379E accident near Ocean Springs, Mississippi

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control while landing in windy conditions.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that during landing the airplane "was pushed violently and unexpectedly to the right". She further reported that she immediately tried to correct with rudder, aileron and power inputs simultaneously. The airplane continued to drift farther to the right of the centerline and contacted several trees along the edge of the airport before the airplane landed nose first onto the runway.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage.

The pilot reported that there were no pre impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

The pilot reported that the wind at the accident airport was 020 degrees true and 12 nautical miles per hours (knots), and that she was landing on runway 36. The nearest weather reporting station, 9 miles to the northwest, reported wind 360 degrees true and 15 knots.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA17CA012 for the full record.