Cessna 172 N7127G accident near Pella, Iowa

Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain the runway heading and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action during landing, which resulted in the instructor landing the airplane in grass left of the runway and a subsequent nose-over.

NTSB analysis

The flight instructor reported that, during the landing with the student pilot on the flight controls, about 5 to 10 ft above the ground, a wind gust caused the airplane to drift right. The instructor assumed control of the airplane, attempted to correct, applied full power, and initiated a go-around. The instructor stated that the airplane was "low and slow," and the left main landing gear contacted the runway, and the airplane drifted left. Concerned the airplane would not gain significant altitude to clear the buildings in the flightpath, the instructor chose to land in the grass left of the runway. Subsequently, the airplane encountered soft terrain and nosed over.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the aft fuselage and rudder.

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

About the time of the accident, the airport's automated weather observation station reported that the wind was from 170° at 5 knots. The student was landing the airplane on runway 16.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA19CA193 for the full record.