Cessna 172 N902RA accident near Stephenville, Texas

Probable cause

The student pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing, and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control in gusting crosswind conditions that exceeded the airplane’s demonstrated crosswind for landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and nose-over.

NTSB analysis

The solo student pilot reported that, during landing, the airplane was configured with flaps 30° and that the airspeed was 70 knots. When the airplane was over the runway, he reduced the throttle to idle and initiated the landing flare. The airplane descended rapidly, landed hard, and bounced. He aborted the landing, "but the wind caught me and the next thing I knew, I was facing the taxiway." The airplane exited the left side of the runway into grass and nosed over.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing lift strut.

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

The METAR at the airport reported that, at the time of the accident, the wind was from 050° at 12 knots, gusting to 20 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 32.

According to the manufacturer's Pilot's Operating Handbook, the maximum demonstrated crosswind is 15 knots. The crosswind component for the accident flight was 16 knots.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA19CA192 for the full record.