Cessna 172 - R accident near Buckeye, Arizona, May 19, 2014
On May 19, 2014 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 2005 Cessna 172 - R, registered N1590W, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Buckeye, Arizona (Buckeye Municipal 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 pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 19, 2014 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Buckeye, Arizona · Buckeye Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 - R, built 2005 · all 172 - Rs on the register
- Registration
- N1590W · registry record · serial 17281256
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that at the last moment before touchdown a sudden gust of wind abruptly pushed the airplane to the left side of the runway. Able to maintain control with rudder input, after landing the pilot exited the runway, and parked the airplane. The pilot conducted a visual examination of the airplane and detected no anomalies. He then departed to practice maneuvers before returning to the home base airport. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that both propeller blade tips were damaged, the fuselage skin was wrinkled, and the firewall had sustained substantial damage as a result of a hard landing. 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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 217 hours in all; 208 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 161 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 8, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,791 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 13, 2014; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Westwind Aviation Incorporated
The flight
- Departed from: DVT Phoenix AZ at 6:30 pm
- Destination: BXK Buckeye AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 5,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 12 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.80 inHg
- Observation at 7:35 pm from BXK, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N1590W 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.