20020404007699A

(-23) Pilot while attempting to land, lost control of aircraft and struck trees with left wing on the west side of the runway (36). Substantial damage to left wing, and fuselage. Inspection of flight controls revealed full continuity. Landing gear (fixed) and brakes were in good condition and functioned normally. Flaps were at 10 (both position & indicated), selector was at 30. Mike jack was not fully inserted into receptacle and would not transmit out. Pilot attempted to make three downwind landings (runway 18) with winds from the north (runway 36) at 20 knots and gusty. On third attempt pilot did a quick 180 (turning right) at the south end of runway 36 resulting in a landing left of center on touchdown then veered into the trees. Skid marks in grass indicated heavy use of right brake initially and finally both brakes in an attempt to stop aircraft from impacting trees. (.19) on April 4, 2002, at 1730 central standard time, a Cessna 172P, N64079, registered to Ferguson aviation, collided the ground during an attempted landing at Ferguson Airport in Pensacola, Florida. The personal flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of title 14 CFR part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage: the private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The flight departed Pensacola, Florida, at an undetermined time. According to the fixed base operator, the pilot had been conducting a pleasure flight, which included closed traffic at the private airport. The pilot had attempted several approaches to runway 18 without landing. On the accident approach, the pilot decided to land. According to a witness, the airplane appeared to have stalled over the runway prior to the collision with the ground. Reportedly, the prevailing winds were 330 degrees at 12 knots at the approximate time of the attempted landing.