# NTSB BFO90LA044: Cessna 172A, N7746T, Pocomoke, MD, May 7, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 7, 1990, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Pocomoke, MD
- Coordinates: 38.060939, -75.560623 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0609&lon=-75.5606&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11593
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO90LA044
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11593/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO90LA044

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF DISTANCE AND SPEED DURING THE APPROACH TO LAND, AND HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWWN POINT DURING THE LANDING.  THE DITCH WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)

## Analysis

EARLIER, THE WIND AT THE AIRSTRIP HAD BEEN FROM 330 DEG AT 15 TO 20 KTS.  WHEN THE PLT RETURNED TO LAND, HE ASSUMED THE WIND WOULD BE THE SAME, THOUGH IT RPRTDLY HAD BECOME CALM. ON THE 1ST APCH TO RWY 36, THE ACFT WAS HIGH, SO THE PLT MADEA GO-AROUND. ON THE 2ND APCH, FLAPS WERE SET AT 30 DEG & THE AIRSPEED WAS BETWEEN 75 & 80 MPH. THE PLT RPRTD THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT HALFWAY DOWN THE 1800' SOD STRIP & HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP ON THE REMAINING RWY.  SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CONTD OFF THE DEP END & WENT INTO A DITCH. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS RPRTD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7746T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7746T), registered now, S/N 47346, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172A
- Registry model: [Cessna 172A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172a) (registry code 2072404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 47346
- Airframe hours: 4323
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-C8 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Frank R. King
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 1990, 23 hours before
- Departed: W41, CRISFIELD, MD
- Destination: MD89
- Airport: MD89, Murphy, runway 36, 1,800 × 50 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 73; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,679 total, 800 in this make and model, 1,464 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F

## 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 19900507020829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900507020829A), May 7, 1990: Cessna 172A, Pocomoke, MD, Substantial damage. Landed long and fast on short strip on second try. Unable to stop,ran off end of runway into ditch.

## Other investigations on N7746T (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 CHI66D0654](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI66D0654), Mar 30, 1966: Cessna 172A (N7746T), W Carrollton, OH, substantial damage

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.