- Date
- November 22, 1994, 13:25 local (18:25 UTC)
- Place
- Bethel, ME
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N19735Cessna 172L
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 7, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 9017
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 flight instructor's failure to ensure adequate control of the airplane during a go-around. The gusty wind conditions were contributing factors.
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 a dual instructional flight, the CFI initiated a practice forced landing. According to the CFI the student pilot selected 30 degrees of flaps and made '...correct actions to counteract a left crosswind...' While on final approach to the runway. The CFI stated: 'prior to touchdown of the left main wheel, we experienced a very strong gust of wind from the right (almost a 180 degree shear).' The CFI took control of the airplane, added power and raised the wing flaps for a go-around. The airplane collided with trees located off the left side of the runway.
Factual narrative
On November 22, 1994, at 1325 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172L, N19735, operated as a dual instructional flight by Bethel Air Service, struck trees during an attempted go-around at Colonel Dyke Field in Bethel, Maine. The airplane received substantial damage. The Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI) and student pilot, the sole occupants, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight. The flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91.
The CFI reported that during the dual instructional flight, a practice forced landing was initiated over the airport and the airplane spiraled down for a landing on runway 32. According to the CFI, the student pilot selected 30 degrees of flaps and made "...correct actions to counteract a left crosswind of approximately 10 knots..." during the final approach to the runway. The CFI reported that "Prior to touchdown of the left main wheel, we experienced a very strong gust of wind from the right (almost 180 degree shear)." The CFI took control of the airplane, added power for a go-around and raised the wing flaps. The CFI reported he was unable to regain control of the airplane, and it continued in a left turn until it struck trees.
Weather reports at the time of accident indicated the wind to be from a westerly direction at 14 knots gusting to 23 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N19735
- Reported as
- Cessna 172L
- Category
- Airplane
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Bethel Air Service
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Departed
- 0B1
- Airport
- 0B1 · Colonel Dyke Field, runway 32, 3,150 × 60 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
- 27
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 370 total · 150 in this make and model · 300 as pilot in command · 110 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 14 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 46 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Observed at
- BML, 18 nm away