Cessna 172 N418DD accident near Green Valley, Arizona

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing with a tailwind.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that during the landing roll he felt as though the airplane was being pushed to the left side of the runway so he applied full right rudder and left aileron. The airplane exited the left side of the runway, and he added power to prevent the airplane's nose from colliding with a drainage culvert, but the airplane accelerated and impacted a tree.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the leading edge of the left wing.

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

The pilot reported that the wind at the destination airport was from 90° at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots. The airplane landed on runway 24.

The pilot landed to runway 24 because of the 2.9-percent uphill gradient.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA18CA161 for the full record.