BFO95LA088

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172G · Put-In-Bay, OH · August 26, 1995

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
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.

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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.

In flight collision with objectLanding - aborted
Airport facilities,unicom - otherFactor
Weather condition - tailwindFactor
Wrong runway - selectedPilot in commandCause
Proper touchdown point - not attained
Object - tree(s)
Aborted landing - delayedPilot in commandCause

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.