NTSB Factual Report

On November 18, 2005, about 1315 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172R, N5182Z, registered to Dean's Flight, Inc., and operated by Orlando Flight Training, experienced a loss of control during landing at Kissimmee Gateway Airport, Kissimmee, FL. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight from Ocala International Airport, Ocala, Florida to Kissimmee Gateway Airport. The airplane was substantially damaged and the student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated about 1030 from Kissimmee Gateway Airport.

The pilot stated that during the last leg of a three-leg cross country flight, he obtained the AWOS information from the destination airport when the flight was 10 miles away; the wind was reported to be from 030 degrees at 9 knots. The flight continued and the pilot also stated his approach to runway 33 was normal until the airplane, "...ballooned up...became unstable and the wing tilted left and right." He further stated that the airplane did not maintain level flight and turned to the left which he attempted to correct with right rudder input. The rudder input, "...was not in time the plane dropped to the ground turning to the left sliding into the fence."

A review of the Automated Weather Observing System AWOS-3 reports on the day of the accident at the destination airport indicate that at 0950, the wind was from 030 degrees at 8 knots. At 1047, the wind was from 030 degrees at 7 knots, and at 1150, the wind was from 050 degrees at 5 knots. Additionally, at 1246, or approximately 29 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 020 at 11 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's improper flare and remedial action during landing resulting in an in-flight loss of control and subsequent collision with terrain. A related factor was the crosswind.