Sunday, February 28, 2021

Cessna 172N Skyhawk, N172FG: Accident occurred March 29, 2020 at Sedona Airport (KSEZ), Yavapai County, Arizona





This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. 

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Scottsdale, Arizona

Fly 172N LLC  

https://registry.faa.gov/N172FG


Location: Sedona, AZ 
Accident Number: WPR20LA115
Date & Time: March 29, 2020, 11:42 Local
Registration: N172FG
Aircraft: Cessna 172
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On March 29, 2020, about 1142 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172, N172FG, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at the Sedona Airport, Sedona, Arizona. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

In a written report to the NTSB, the pilot reported the wind at the time of the accident was 130° at 9 kts, with variable gusts. According to her recount of the accident flight, immediately after touchdown, and just beyond the 1,000’ markers of Runway 21, the airplane “took a violent 40° swing to the left.” The pilot applied full right rudder and right brakes in an effort to correct the turn, however, the airplane continued off the runway, encountered soft terrain and nosed over.

A witness stated the wind was “…very gusty and shifting” when the airplane landed on Runway 21 at Sedona. He observed the airplane touch down on its nose gear, veer left and exit the left side of the runway before the airplane nosed over and came to rest.

The pilot reported that the airplane’s nose landing gear fork failed and following the accident pictures of the nose gear fork “… showed severe corrosion and cracks where the nose gear failed on landing.” The pilot reported that the pictures were reviewed by a metallurgist “…who confirmed that the part [nose gear fork] was severely compromised and unairworthy.” The pilot opined that the failed landing gear fork caused the airplane to swerve off the runway.

The nose landing gear fork was retained for further examination

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Cessna 
Registration: N172FG
Model/Series: 172 N
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator:
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC 
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KSEZ 
Observation Time: 10:00 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 
Temperature/Dew Point:
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear 
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 9 knots / , 130°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility:
Altimeter Setting: 
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Glendale, AZ (KGEU)
Destination: Sedona, AZ

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 None 
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None 
Latitude, Longitude: 34.848888,-111.78805 (est)

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