Cessna 172 N5147N accident near Show Low, Arizona

Probable cause

The flight instructor’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in gusting crosswind and tailwind conditions.

NTSB analysis

The flight instructor reported that, during approach in a gusting crosswind, he took the flight controls from the student pilot about 500 to 700 ft above ground level. He added that, during the landing roll while decelerating, a wind gust lifted the back of the airplane "from the rear right to the front left, forcing the front wheel onto the ground and lifting the plane onto the left main" landing gear. He applied full left rudder and right aileron to correct, but when it did not improve the situation, he "relaxed the controls slightly back towards neutral." Subsequently, the airplane exited the runway to the right and came to rest inverted.

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

The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, at the time of the accident, the wind was from 210° at 26 knots, gusting to 32 knots. The airplane landed on runway 06.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA18CA141 for the full record.