# Accident 20210502005289A: Cessna 172S, Martinsville, VA, May 2, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 2, 2021, 16:35 local time
- Place: Martinsville, VA
- Airport: Blue Ridge Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.6314° N, 80.0181° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6314&lon=-80.0181&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1089D, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1089D) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172S (registry code 2072439, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (registry code 41597, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 186 total, 26 in this make and model, 33 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA21LA202](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA202) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210502005289A

## Narrative

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

PILOT STATED WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH FOR RUNWAY 31 AT THE BLUE RIDGE AIRPORT (KMTV), HE REALIZED THE AIRCRAFT WAS AT TOO HIGH OF AN ALTITUDE BY OBSERVING ALL WHITE LIGHTS SHOWN ON THE PRECISION APPROACH PATH INDICATORS (PAPI). HE THEN FULLY EXTENDED THE FLAPS AND CONTINUED THE APPROACH TO LANDING. DURING THE FLARE, THE PILOT REALIZED HE WAS STILL TOO HIGH AND ALSO TOO SLOW. HE THEN ATTEMPTED A GO AROUND. THE PILOT STATED THAT ONCE FULL THROTTLE WAS APPLIED TO INITIATE THE GO AROUND, THE CONTROL WHEEL TURNED FULLY LEFT AND THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO SLOW DOWN AND SINK, CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT'S TAIL TO DRAG DOWN THE RUNWAY. THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT THEN IMPACTED THE RUNWAY CAUSING THE NOSE GEAR TO SHEAR OFF THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN THE GRASS. THE ACCIDENT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING, FORWARD FUSELAGE, NOSE GEAR, TAIL, AND PROPELLER. NO INJURIES REPORTED.

## 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 ERA21LA202](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA202), May 2, 2021: Cessna 172S (N1089D), Martinsville, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper pitch control during a go-around in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a tail strike and a runway excursion.

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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