Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 172P near Las Cruces, NM — 2023-11-27

Final reportWPR24LA058
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Date
2023-11-27
Location
Las Cruces, NM, USA
Airport
LRU
Aircraft
CESSNA 172P
Registration
N5495K
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

An encounter with a downdraft during an approach to land, which resulted in a hard landing.

NTSB narrative

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.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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