Cessna 172M accident near Green Valley, Arizona, May 8, 2002
On May 8, 2002 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N754LT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Green Valley, Arizona (Continental Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to identify the wind direction, which led to an attempted downwind landing approach that resulted in a hard landing and severe bounce. Also causal was the pilot's failure to promptly retract the flaps during the rejected landing after touchdown, which led to a stall/mush condition during the takeoff initial climb and a resultant collision with terrain. Factors in the accident were the high density altitude and the prevailing tailwind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 8, 2002 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Green Valley, Arizona · Continental Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N754LT · no longer on the register · serial 172-64815
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane impacted terrain next to the runway during an aborted landing. The pilot reported that the airplane lost altitude as the result of a down draft while executing a full stop landing on runway 01. The airplane touched down hard and bounced several times. An aborted landing was attempted, but the pilot did not retract the flaps. The airplane continued flying towards the right side of the runway, and was unable to climb over or turn away from the rising terrain into which it ultimately impacted. Both pilots indicated that prior to impact, the engine sounds were normal. Control continuity was established and no mechanical anomalies were found. The density altitude was 5,500 feet msl. Responding officers from the Tucson Airport Police Department reported that the winds were out of the south at 10 miles per hour, with occasional variations in direction from west through east.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 116 hours in all; 62 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 116 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 3, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,200 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 2,700 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 6, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,312.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 4, 2001; 88.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OLS Nogales AZ at 5:00 pm
- Destination: KTUS Tucson AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01, 3,500 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from KTUS, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.