Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing with a quartering tailwind.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot reported that, during a solo cross-country flight, while landing in a gusting crosswind, the airplane drifted off the runway to the left and spun 180°. The nose landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing.
The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 5 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 140° at 10 knots. The airplane landed on runway 26.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA18CA493 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Aug 15, 2018
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Silver City, New Mexico
- Nearest airport
- Grant County (SVC)
- Highest injury
- Minor
- Minor injuries
- 1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172
- N-number
- N1543Y
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1962
- 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.