Cessna 172N N5589E accident near Page, Arizona

Probable cause

The pilot’s improper landing flare in gusting wind conditions, his inadequate recovery from the subsequent bounced landing, and his decision to perform a go-around with insufficient airspeed to climb.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that, while landing the airplane in gusting wind conditions, he approached the runway at 60 knots and that, when he flared the airplane, it started to drift to the side of the runway. When the main landing gear touched down, a gust of wind lifted the airplane off the runway. The airplane touched down again and then bounced too high to continue the landing. The pilot subsequently initiated a go-around; the airplane was at full power with an airspeed of less than 43 knots. He did not raise the flaps because he was afraid the airplane would descend. The airplane started a slow descent, and the stall warning horn sounded. The airplane subsequently struck a small tree and then the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The wind at the airport was from 190 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 23 knots at the time of the accident. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR14LA235 for the full record.