Cessna 172G accident near Augusta, Maine, April 25, 1995
On April 25, 1995 at about 2:08 pm local time, a Cessna 172G, registered N3799L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Augusta, Maine (Augusta State airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE STUDENT PILOT'S DELAY IN ABORTING THE LANDING ATTEMPT. THE CROSSWIND, AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE CROSSWIND WERE FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 25, 1995 · about 2:08 pm local time
- Place
- Augusta, Maine · Augusta State
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172G · all 172Gs on the register
- Registration
- N3799L · no longer on the register · serial 17253968
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THIS WAS THE STUDENT PILOT'S THIRD SOLO CROSS COUNTRY. WHILE ON FINAL FOR RUNWAY 35, THE PILOT CORRECTED FOR A LEFT CROSSWIND. DURING THE FLARE, A GUST OF WIND PICKED UP THE LEFT WING AND THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT CORRECTED WITH RUDDER AND AILERON CONTROLS AND ATTAINED RUNWAY CENTERLINE ALIGNMENT. A SECOND GUST OF WIND LIFTED THE LEFT WING AND THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT ABOUT HALF WAY OFF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT ELECTED TO ABORT THE LANDING. THE LEFT WING CONTINUED TO RISE, AND THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT. THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE GROUND AND THE AIRPLANE PIVOTED 180 DEG. THE WINDS AT AUGUSTA, AT 0951 AND 1018 RESPECTIVELY, WERE 260 DEG AT 10 KTS, AND 290 DEG AT 9 KTS.
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: student
- Flight time: 40 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 13 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,564 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 73 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Larry'S Aircraft Services
The flight
- Departed from: CAR Caribou ME at 1:29 pm
- Destination: AUG
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 35, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:18 pm from AUG
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.