BFO93LA172

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172L · Gr Barrington, MA · September 12, 1993

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
September 12, 1993, 14:55 local (18:55 UTC)
Place
Gr Barrington, MA
Injuries
5 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N7064QCessna 172L
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report October 20, 1994
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19930912034479A
Case key
8818

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind which resulted in his loss of directional control during the landing roll and subsequent collision with the parked airplanes. A related factor was the pilot's lack of experience.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll
Compensation for wind conditions - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Weather condition - crosswindFactor
Lack of total experiencePilot in commandFactor
Object - aircraft parked/standing

Analysis

The pilot and his passengers were returning from a local flight, when he reported that he was high on the approach to runway 29. He stated that the airplane touched down about 1/3 down the runway and the airplane bounced once. He reported that he experienced a gust of wind from the left. He stated that he applied the brakes and the airplane slid to the left veering off the runway and colliding with two unoccupied airplanes that were parked on the grass. A witness, who is a flight instructor had just returned from a training flight with his student stated that he had to take the controls from his student during the landing as the 30 knot windsock on the field was fully extended. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction.

Factual narrative

On Sunday, September 12, 1993, at 1455 eastern daylight time, N7064Q, a Cessna 172L, operated by Oxford Flying Club of Southbury, Connecticut, and piloted by Dunham Smith of Sandyhook, Connecticut, collided with two parked airplanes during landing at Great Barrington Airport, Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The certificated private pilot and his four passengers were not injured. The local, personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91.

According to the pilot, he was high on the approach to runway 29. He stated that he touched down about 1/3 down the runway and the airplane bounced once. He reported that he experienced a gust of wind from the left. He stated that he applied the brakes and the airplane slid to the left veering off the runway and colliding with two unoccupied airplanes that were parked on the grass.

According to a witness, who is a flight instructor, the 30 knot windsock on the field was fully extended. He stated that he had just returned from a flight with a student, and he had to take the controls during the landing.

The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction.

Aircraft

Registration
N7064Q
Reported as
Cessna 172L
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17260364
Airframe hours
4,722
Engine
Lycoming O-320-D2G, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Oxford Flying Club
Registered owner
Oxford Flying Club
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · April 24, 1993 · 178 hours before
Destination
GBR
Airport
GBR · Great Barrington, runway 29, 2,600 × 50 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
46
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
87 total · 84 in this make and model · 29 as pilot in command · 21 in the last 90 days · 11 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
150° at 13 knots
Visibility
45 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
70 °F, dew point 45 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
ALB, 38 nm away

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.