Cessna 172S accident near Bend, Oregon, June 9, 2012
On June 9, 2012, a Cessna 172S, registered N698SP, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Bend, Oregon (Bend airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s inadequate crosswind correction, which resulted in a loss of airplane control and runway excursion into a berm.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 2012
- Place
- Bend, Oregon · Bend · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172S · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N698SP · registry record · serial 172S8639
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was landing with a gusting, quartering crosswind. While on the final leg of the landing pattern, he noted that the airplane was high, but it then touched down beyond the precision approach path indicator (PAPI) lights and remained aligned with the runway centerline. During the landing roll, the left wing lifted and the airplane started to turn to the right. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control and the airplane departed the runway surface and struck a berm, substantially damaging the left wing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Crosswind correction › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 254 hours in all; 106 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 172 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 30, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,378 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 30, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: West Valley Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: RDD Redding CA at 8:52 pm
- Destination: BDN Bend OR
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 16, 5,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 8,500 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 pm from KBDN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N698SP the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.