# Accident 20200923016639A: Cessna 172N, Lagrange, NC, September 23, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 23, 2020, 19:00 local time
- Place: Lagrange, NC
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.3068° N, 77.7880° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3068&lon=-77.7880&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5439E, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5439E-2022-11-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172N (registry code 2072434, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 610 total, 280 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA20LA336](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA336) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200923016639A

## Narrative

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

PIC DEPARTED HOME GRASS AIRSTRIP TO GET FUEL TANKS FILLED AT GOLDSBORO AIRPORT APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTE FLIGHT.  ON RETURN TRIP ABOUT 6:55 PM ON 9.23.2020; DURING FINAL APPROACH TO SAME GRASS RUNWAY, FELT "AIR POCKET" AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY DROPPED WITH YAWING MOVEMENT, CONTACTING TREE FOLIAGE ON FINAL APPROACH. PIC COULD NOT CLIMB AS AIRCRAFT KEPT DESCENDING INTO WOODED AREA.

FLAPS WERE EXTENDED FOR LANDING. AIRCRAFT STOPPED, SUSPENDED IN TREES WITH MAIN LANDING GEAR APPROXIMATELY 5 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. PIC HAD NO SIGNIFICANT INJURIES, A BRUISED FINGER AND PAIN IN THIGH OF LEG.   THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT.

PIC HOURS TOTAL AND IN MAKE/MODEL ESTIMATED FROM LOGBOOK ENTRIES PROVIDED BY PIC. HE STATED ONE RECENT LOGBOOK WAS MISSING BUT HE WOULD FIND IT, ALSO STATING IT HAD HIS BFR IN IT.

## 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 ERA20LA336](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA336), Sep 23, 2020: Cessna 172 (N5439E), La Grange, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during final approach, which resulted in a collision with trees.

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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