# NTSB ATL85FKG12: Cessna 172P, N5227K, Birmingham, AL, September 22, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: September 22, 1985, 11:05 local (16:05 UTC)
- Place: Birmingham, AL
- Coordinates: 33.649139, -86.709953 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6491&lon=-86.7100&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6652
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL85FKG12
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6652/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85FKG12

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - high obstruction(s) (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper touchdown point - exceeded
  - go-around - not performed (cause)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - loose gravel/sandy (contributing factor)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

DURING ARRIVAL, THE PLT NOTED THAT THE WIND WAS FROM ABOUT 150 DEGS. DUE TO THE TERRAIN & OBSTRUCTIONS NEAR THE NORTHEAST END OF THE RWY, HE ELECTED TO LAND ON RWY 4. DURING THE LANDING, THE ACFT FLOATED BEFORE TOUCHING ABOUT 1/3 TO 1/2 OF THE WAY DOWN THE RWY. THE PLT USED MAX BRAKING; HOWEVER, BRAKING ACTION WAS POOR DUE TO LOOSE GRAVEL ON THE TURF RWY. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT HIT ROUGH TERRAIN BEYOND THE END OF THE RWY & THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5227K (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17274020
- Airframe hours: 14804
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: A.G. Emslie, doing business as Aero Lease
- Registered owner: R.Stroud,J.Choate,J.Dozier
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 15, 1985, 704 hours before
- Departed: 3M5, HUNTSVILLE, AL
- Flight plan: VFR/IFR
- Airport: Gilmer Industrial Airpark, runway 4, 3,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 264 total, 159 in this make and model, 234 as pilot in command, 54 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19850922046949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850922046949A), Sep 22, 1985: Cessna 172P, Birmingham, AL, Substantial damage. Landed long on gravel turf runway and ran off end. Braking not effective due to loose gravel.

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.

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