National Transportation Safety Board

Aviation Accident Data Summary

Location: Byron, CA Accident Number: LAX08CA165
Date & Time: 06/06/2008, 1130 PDT Registration: N73403
Aircraft: Cessna 172M Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Instructional

Analysis
The certificated flight instructor (CFI) and a student were practicing landings. They made two
successful landings, and were on approach for a third. Around this time, the recorded winds were
from 250 degrees at 7 knots gusting to 18. When the airplane was 50 feet above ground level (agl),
and over the runway numbers, the student reduced power to idle per the CFI's instructions. At that
moment, the airplane encountered a sudden wind shift or gust, which abruptly caused the airplane to
pitch down and bank to the right. The CFI added full power, and applied back pressure on the yoke,
but was unable to keep the airplane from descending rapidly. The nose gear and right main landing
gear violently struck the runway. The nose gear broke off, and the airplane bounced. The CFI
regained control, and landed the airplane on both main landing gear while keeping the nose gear off
the ground as long as possible. The nose settled on the broken nose gear strut, and the airplane
stopped on the runway.

Probable Cause
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The flight instructor's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions, and his inadequate
supervision of the student pilot. Factors contributing to the accident were a sudden wind shift and
wind gusts.

Findings

Occurrence #1: HARD LANDING

Phase of Operation: LANDING - FLARE/TOUCHDOWN

Findings
1. (F) WEATHER CONDITION - GUSTS
2. (C) COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS - INADEQUATE - PILOT IN COMMAND(CFI)
3. (F) WEATHER CONDITION - SUDDEN WINDSHIFT
4. (C) SUPERVISION - INADEQUATE - PILOT IN COMMAND(CFI)
----------

Occurrence #2: GEAR COLLAPSED

Phase of Operation: LANDING - FLARE/TOUCHDOWN

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Flight Instructor Information
Certificate:
Airplane Rating(s):
Other Aircraft Rating(s):
Flight Time:
Flight Instructor; Commercial Age: 25
Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
None Instructor Rating(s): Airplane Multi-engine; Airplane
Single-engine; Instrument Airplane
1114 hours (Total, all aircraft), 685 hours (Total, this make and model), 173 hours (Last 90 days, all
aircraft), 16 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)

Student Pilot Information

Certificate: Student Age: 17
Airplane Rating(s): None Instrument Rating(s): None
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None Instructor Rating(s): None
Flight Time: 12 hours (Total, all aircraft), 11 hours (Total, this make and model), 12 hours (Last 90 days, all
aircraft), 12 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Cessna Registration: N73403
Model/Series: 172M Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Operator: Alex Al-Abed Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
Operating Certificate(s) None Engine Model/Series: O-320-E2D
Held:
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Instructional

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: LVK Weather Information Source: Weather Observation Facility
Lowest Ceiling: None Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 7 knots / 18 knots, 250°
Temperature: 22°C Visibility 10 Miles
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: San Carlos, CA (SQL) Destination:

Airport Information
Airport: Byron Airport (KC83) Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Runway Used: 23 Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Length/Width: 3000 ft / 75 ft

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 None Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A Aircraft Explosion:
Latitude, Longitude: 37.823333, -121.622222

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Administrative Information
Investigator In Charge (IIC):
Note:
Investigation Docket:
1
Van McKenny Adopted Date: 07/30/2008
This accident report documents the factual circumstances of this accident as described to the NTSB.
NTSB accident and incident dockets serve as permanent archival information for the NTSB’s investigations.
Dockets released prior to June 1, 2009 are publicly available from the NTSB’s Record Management Division
at pubinq@ntsb.gov, or at 800-877-6799. Dockets released after this date are available at
http://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms/.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), established in 1967, is an independent federal agency mandated by Congress
through the Independent Safety Board Act of 1974 to investigate transportation accidents, determine the probable causes of the
accidents, issue safety recommendations, study transportation safety issues, and evaluate the safety effectiveness of government
agencies involved in transportation. The NTSB makes public its actions and decisions through accident reports, safety studies, special
investigation reports, safety recommendations, and statistical reviews.

The Independent Safety Board Act, as codified at 49 U.S.C. Section 1154(b), precludes the admission into evidence or use of any part of
an NTSB report related to an incident or accident in a civil action for damages resulting from a matter mentioned in the report.

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