NTSB Factual Report

On December 7, 2017, about 1600 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172D, N2351U, experienced a loss of aileron control during landing at the Auburn Municipal Airport (S50), Auburn, Washington. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The airplane was registered to Mercer Aviation Group LLC, Mercer Island, Washington, and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight which originated from S50 at 1530.

In a written statement, the pilot reported that after turning onto final for runway 16, the nose of the airplane veered sharply to the left without any control input. The pilot stated that he counteracted the movement by applying right rudder and the airplane veered to the right as he noticed that he had no response from aileron control input. The pilot further reported that he tried to stabilize the airplane with rudder inputs and aborted the landing sequence by applying power. As the application of power was applied, he noticed that the lack of response from the ailerons became more pronounced and decided to reduce throttle and land. Subsequently the airplane landed on the runway surface about 45o off runway heading. The airplane exited the right side of the runway and impacted a water retention pond adjacent to the runway, where it came to rest nose low.

The wreckage was recovered to a secure location for further examination.