Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control on landing touchdown with a crosswind.
NTSB analysis
The pilot stated he was en route on a cross country visual flight rules flight to Florida. He encountered some weather and elected to divert to Savannah, Georgia. He was cleared to land on runway 36 with a left crosswind. The airplane bounced on touchdown and he lost directional control of the airplane. The airplane touched back down on the runway, went off the right side of the runway, collapsed the left main landing gear, and received structural damage to the left wing. The pilot stated there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. The surface winds at the airport were 220-degree at 5 knots and no wind gusts.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for MIA08CA104 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- May 23, 2008
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Savannah, Georgia
- Nearest airport
- Savannah/Hilton Head Int (KSAV)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172M
- N-number
- N73471
- Category
- Airplane
- 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.