Tuesday, January 05, 2016

Cessna 172R Skyhawk, N72AF, Ameriflyers of California, Inc: Accident occurred January 05, 2016 at Sulfur Springs Municipal Airport (KSLR), Hopkins County, Texas

AMERIFLYERS OF CALIFORNIA INC: http://registry.faa.gov/N72AF 

NTSB Identification: CEN16LA092
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Tuesday, January 05, 2016 in Sulfur Springs, TX
Probable Cause Approval Date: 08/16/2016
Aircraft: CESSNA 172R, registration: N72AF
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.

NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The student pilot was landing at the destination airport after conducting a cross-country solo flight. He reported that, during the touchdown, he lost directional control of the airplane. The airplane crossed over a grass strip onto a taxiway, crossed the taxiway, and impacted a ditch. The nosewheel got stuck in the ditch, and the airplane nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder, left wing strut, cowling, firewall, and engine mount. The nose landing gear was separated at the firewall. An examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies with the flight controls, engine, or other airplane systems. Calm wind existed at the time of the accident.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing.






On January 5, 2016 about 1235 Central Standard Time, a Cessna 172R, N72AF, impacted terrain while attempting to land at the Sulfur Springs Municipal Airport (SLR), Sulfur Springs, Texas. The solo student pilot on board was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was owned and operated by American Flyers of California, Incorporated, a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross country flight that was operating on a visual flight rules flight plan. The flight originated at Dallas, Texas, at 1150.

The student pilot reported he was landing at SLR when during touchdown, he lost control of the airplane. The airplane crossed over a grass strip onto a taxiway, crossed the taxiway and impacted in a ditch. The nose wheel stuck in the ditch and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder, left wing strut, cowling, firewall and engine mount. The nose gear was separated at the firewall. An examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies to the flight controls, engine or other airplane systems.


At 1235, the reported weather conditions at SLR were wind calm, clear skies, visibility 10 statute miles, temperature 5 degrees Celsius (C), dew point -2 degrees C, and altimeter 30.37 inches of Mercury.

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