- Date
- February 22, 1994, 09:20 local (14:20 UTC)
- Place
- Slatington, PA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N5272RCessna 172M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 14, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940222002789A
- Case key
- 8896
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and failure to maintain alignment with the runway. The crosswind was a factor.
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.
Analysis
During the approach to the 30-foot-wide runway (runway 01), the airplane started to drift right. The pilot stated that before he could correct the airplane's flight path, the airplane's right wheel impacted a 3 to 4-foot-high snow bank located on the right side of the runway (both sides of the runway had snow banks). The pilot stated that when the right wheel impacted the snow bank, the airplane's left wing contacted the ground and was substantially damaged. The pilot stated that there were no airframe or engine mechanical malfunctions prior to the accident. At the time of the accident, the winds were coming from the west at a velocity of 5 to 8 knots.
Factual narrative
On Tuesday, February 22, 1994, at 0920 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172M, N5272R, owned and operated by the Richmond Pilots Association Incorporated, of Staten Island, New York, and piloted by Robert Kingsley of Staten Island, impacted a snow bank during a landing at the Slatington Airport, Slatington, Pennsylvania, and was substantially damaged. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The cross country personal flight originated from the Linden Airport in Linden, New Jersey, and was destined for the Slatington Airport. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to the pilot, about 100 feet from the end of the 30- foot-wide runway, the airplane started to drift to the right of the runway centerline. The pilot stated that before he could correct the airplane's flight path, the airplane's right wheel impacted a 3 to 4-foot-high snow bank located on the side of the runway. (Snow banks were present on both sides of the runway.) The pilot stated, "...[The] Right wheel caught snow bank about 1/2 way up. Aircraft turned to the right into the bank. Left wing hit ground as aircraft pivoted." The left wing was substantially damaged.
The pilot reported that there were no airplane mechanical malfunctions prior to the accident. At the time of the accident, the winds were coming from the west at a velocity of 5 knots and were gusting to 8 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5272R
- Reported as
- Cessna 172M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17263486
- Airframe hours
- 6,166
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Richmond Pilots Association
- Registered owner
- Richmond Pilots Association
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 8, 1993 · 101 hours before
- Departed
- LDJ · Linden, NJ
- Destination
- 69N
- Airport
- 69N · Slatington Airport, runway 1, 1,950 × 30 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
- 57
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 489 total · 200 in this make and model · 429 as pilot in command · 8 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 5 knots, gusting 8
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 19 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.