Probable cause
The pilot’s decision to land with a tailwind and in his failure to maintain pitch control of the airplane in gusting wind conditions.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that, during the landing flare, the airplane encountered a wind gust and the airplane pitched upward. During landing, the airplane bounced twice and each time it touched down on the nose landing gear, and subsequently both wings struck the ground.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left and the right-wing spar.
The pilot reported that the wind at the airport about the time of the accident was from 100° at 12kts, gusting to 30kts. The pilot landed on runway 33.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA18CA177 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Mar 12, 2018
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Snohomish, Washington
- Nearest airport
- Harvey Field (S43)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 152
- N-number
- N6509L
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1980
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
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.