# Accident 20111028024679A: Cessna 172F, Smoketown, PA, October 28, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 28, 2011, 15:40 local time
- Place: Smoketown, PA
- Airport: Smoketown
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.0414° N, 76.2014° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0414&lon=-76.2014&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5613R, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5613R-2013-08-27) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172F (registry code 2072414, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-300 series (registry code 17022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172F
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR 0-300 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,030 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA12CA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA053) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111028024679A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE PILOT WAS TOO LOW ON FINAL APPROACH TO RWY 10 AT SMOKETOWN (S37).  AS A RESULT, THE AIRCRAFT'S LEFT WING STRUCK A TREE ON FINAL APPROACH.  THE IMPACT CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT'S NOSE TO TURN LEFT APPROXIMATELY 40 DEGRESS OFF RWY CENTER-LINE.  THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO DECEND, CONTACTED THE GROUND, AND BECAME AIRBORNE AGAIN.  THE PILOT THEN BANKED THE AIRCRAFT HARD LEFT TO AVOID IMPACT WITH A HANGER.  THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE GROUND, NOSE AND LEFT WING DOWN ON A HEADING OF APPROXIMATELY 290 DEGREES. ON INITIAL IMPACT THE LEFT WING WAS BENT UP AND PARTIALLY SEPARATED FROM THE FUSELAGE, THE ENGINE WAS PARTIALLY DISLODGED FROM THE ENGINE MOUNTS, AND THE NOSE GEAR WAS SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT.  THE AIRCRAFT THEN ROTATED APPROXIMATELY 180 DEGREES, CONTACTING THE RIGHT WING AND TAIL, AND COMING TO REST 50 YARDS FROM THE INITIAL POINT OF IMPACT ON A HEADING OF 090 DEGREES.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA12CA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA053), Oct 28, 2011: Cessna 172F (N5613R), Smoketown, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot did not maintain a proper approach path, which resulted in a collision with a tree.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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