- Date
- August 26, 1995, 14:40 local (18:40 UTC)
- Place
- Put-In-Bay, OH
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N3680LCessna 172G
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 29, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950826025969A
- Case key
- 9076
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 delay in aborting the landing after selecting the wrong runway. Factors relating to the accident were: garbled radio transmissions on the UNICOM frequency, and the resultant tailwind for landing.
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
The pilot reported that when he arrived at the destination airport, the UNICOM frequency transmissions regarding active runway information were garbled. He stated that he thought he heard 'no traffic' and '22', so he attempted to land on runway 22. The pilot reported that after the airplane touched down, he realized that he would not be able to stop by the end of the runway, so he aborted the landing. He stated that during the climb out, the stall alarm sounded intermittently, and the airplane impacted trees. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented if the radio transmissions were better and he had used runway 4. Winds in the vicinity of the accident site were reported to be from 070 degrees at 8 knots. An FAA inspector reported that the airplane had touched down about half way down the 2870 foot long runway.
Factual narrative
On August 26, 1995, at 1445 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172G, N3680L, collided with trees during an aborted landing attempt at Put-In-Bay Airport, Put-In-Bay, Ohio. The certificated private pilot received minor injuries, and the two passengers were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91 and originated in Detroit, Michigan.
The pilot reported that his flight to Ohio was eventful. He stated that he called on the unicom frequency to request active runway information for the destination airport. He stated that the response transmissions were "...garbled with squeals and static." The pilot reported that responses to his requests for clarification were also garbled, but he heard "...22..." and "...no traffic...", so he elected to land on runway 22. He stated that, "even with full flaps down, I could not slow the plane down. After touchdown I felt I could not come to a complete stop by the end of the runway."
The pilot reported that he decided to abort the landing. He stated that during the climb out the stall alarm sounded intermittently. He reported that he banked the airplane to the left to avoid trees, but the left wing struck a taller tree and the airplane descended to the ground.
A weather observation station at Toledo, Ohio, about 45 nautical miles west of the accident site, reported winds out of 070 degrees at 8 knots. According to an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector, the airplane touched down half way down the 2870 foot long runway 22. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented if the radio transmissions were better, and if he had used runway 4 instead of 22.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3680L
- Reported as
- Cessna 172G
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17253849
- Airframe hours
- 1,680
- Engine
- Continental O-300-D, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Helmut J Meysing
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 1, 1995 · 5 hours before
- Departed
- DET · Detroit, MI
- Destination
- OH30 · OH
- Airport
- OH30 · Put-In-Bay, runway 22, 2,870 × 25 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
- 62
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 283 total · 235 in this make and model · 180 as pilot in command · 6 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 70° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- TOL, 45 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.