Chemehuevi Valley Airport, Chemehuevi Valley, California
Location: The Chemehuevi Valley Airport is located 4
miles north of Chemehuevi Valley, California.
History:
Chemehuevi Valley Airport Today: Not Attended;
Airport
Services and Amenities: Restaurant and lodging within 2 miles;
Special Events and
Attractions: Casino; Lake Havasu Recreation Area;
Airport
Area Accident History:
Accident occurred Wednesday, July 07, 2004 in
Chemehuevi, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 9/29/2004
Aircraft: Cessna 172N, registration: N734PW
Injuries: 1 Minor.
The student pilot bounced the airplane upon
touchdown and lost directional control with a prevailing quartering tailwind.
The airplane veered off the side of the runway, rolled into an embankment, and
nosed over. Days earlier, the student's certified flight instructor had
authorized the student to practice takeoffs and landings at the airport. The
accident occurred after the student had flown for about 50 minutes. During his
third landing on the 5,000-foot-long by 75-foot-wide runway 34, with 20 degrees
of wing flaps extended, the pilot encountered a quartering tailwind. The
airplane initially touched down on its left main landing gear. Thereafter, the
airplane bounced, and the right main landing gear contacted the runway. Although
the student increased engine power and pulled the control yoke aft, his overall
efforts to maintain control were inadequate. From 8 minutes before to 12 minutes
after the accident, the wind direction and speed were reported at an airport 5
miles from the site as varying from 150 to 190 degrees, and from 3 and 6 knots.
No wind gusts were reported. The student's total solo flying experience was 13
hours.
The National Transportation Safety Board
determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows: the pilot's
improper recovery from a bounced landing, inadequate compensation for the wind
conditions, and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane.
Chemehuevi
Valley Airport Approach / Landing:
