Probable cause
An encounter with a downdraft during an approach to land, which resulted in a hard landing.
NTSB analysis
At the time of the accident, the student pilot was on a solo cross-country flight to obtain a private, single engine airplane add-on to his certificate.
He reported that during a landing attempt he noted that the approach was stable at a constant airspeed and power setting. The pilot said that at an unknown point in the approach, he experienced a downdraft as he felt “a little push down” and observed a rapid change in his rate of descent. The pilot could not recall at what altitude he encountered the downdraft. The airplane landed hard and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage.
The weather station at the airport reported that the wind was calm at the time of the accident.
The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that could have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR24LA058 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Nov 27, 2023
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Las Cruces, New Mexico
- Nearest airport
- Las Cruces Intl (LRU)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172P
- N-number
- N5495K
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1980
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
Other records under this N-number
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.