FORT COLLINS, CO, USA
N5222D
CESSNA 172N
THE STUDENT PILOT FLARED THE AIRPLANE FOR LANDING WHEN A GUST OF WIND CAUSED THE AIRPLANE TO DEPART THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT CLOSED CARBURETOR HEAT, APPLIED FULL THROTTLE, AND BEGAN RETRACTING THE FLAPS IN AN ATTEMPT TO ABORT THE LANDING. THE PILOT SAW A DITCH AND ATTEMPTED TO AVOID IT, BUT THE LEFT WIND TIP STRUCK A TREE BRANCH AND THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR HIT THE DITCH, SPINNING THE AIRPLANE AROUND. WINDS WERE REPORTED GUSTING TO 25 KNOTS.
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. A FACTOR WAS: CROSSWIND.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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