# Accident 20150921018489A: Cessna 172S, Bally, PA, September 21, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 21, 2015, 18:30 local time
- Place: Bally, PA
- Airport: Butter Valley Golf Port
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.4039° N, 75.5744° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4039&lon=-75.5744&mi=10
- Aircraft: N347SP, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N347SP-2018-03-13) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172S (registry code 2072439, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 SER A&C (registry code 41511, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,550 total, 1,300 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA15LA366](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA366) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150921018489A

## Narrative

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

PILOT STATES DURING CLIMB OUT ENGINE LOST POWER. ATTEMPTED TO LAND STRAIGHT AHEAD HOWEVER SAW POWER LINES MADE A LEFT TURN AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN FIELD. NOSE STRUCK FENCE CAUSING AIRCRAFT TO FLIP OVER.

3 WITNESSES SAW AN AIRCRAFT MATCHING THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT EXECUTING AEROBATIC MANEUVERS WEST OF THE POWER LINES (AIRFIELD IS EAST OF THE POWER LINES).

ON SCENE OBSERVATION INDICATED AIRCRAFT DESCENDED WEST OF AND PARALLEL TO THE POWER LINES, RIGHT WING LOW WITH RIGHT WINGTIP CONTACTING SOYBEAN PLANTS. AIRCRAFT ENTERED A RIGHT TURN WITH THE RIGHT WINGTIP CONTACTING THE GROUND. AIRCRAFT SETTLED ONTO ALL LANDING GEAR AND CONTACTED GROUND BERM AND FENCE, SHEARING OFF NOSE LANDING GEAR. AIRCRAFT CONTINUED SLIDE UNTIL ENGINE AND FIREWALL DUG INTO GROUND CAUSING AIRCRAFT TO FLIP UPSIDE DOWN AT END OF SKID. PROPELLER DID NOT APPEAR TO BE ROTATING AT IMPACT AND UPON UPRIGHTING AIRCRAFT EXAMINATION OF FUEL TANKS SHOWED BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT WING TANKS TO BE MORE THAT 75% FULL.

## 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 ERA15LA366](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA366), Sep 21, 2015: Cessna 172 (N347SP), Bally, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain altitude during low-level aerobatic maneuvers. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's improper decision to attempt the low-level aerobatic maneuvers and his…

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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