- Date
- April 25, 1998, 10:40 local (15:40 UTC)
- Place
- Eagle River, WI
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N79006Cessna 172
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 19, 1999
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980425007799A
- Case key
- 10860
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 failed to compensate for the wind conditions, improperly executed a go-around when he raised the flaps, and failed to maintain obstacle clearance with the trees.
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 flew over the airport at mid-field, the wind 'was switching around to the point that runway 31 would be a better choice.' As he was approaching runway 31 on short final, the airplane was not slowing down. He looked at the wind sock and it indicated that the wind was 'almost directly behind me.' He removed carburetor heat, applied full power, and raised the flaps. Initially the airplane started to accelerate, but then it 'seemed to slightly sink.' He reported that all he could see was the tops of trees so he 'pulled the nose up as high as he could to stall the airplane.' The airplane settled through the trees. The pilot did not claim that there was anything wrong with the airplane prior to the impact. The pilot information manual stated the procedures for a balked landing were: 'In a balked landing (go-around) climb, reduce the wing flap setting to 20 degrees immediately after full power is applied. If obstacles must be cleared during the go-around, leave the wing flaps in the 10 degrees to 20 degrees range until the obstacles are cleared. After clearing any obstacles the flaps may be retracted as the airplane accelerates to the normal flaps-up climb speed of 80 to 90 MPH.'
Factual narrative
On April 25, 1998, at 1040 central daylight time, a Cessna 172, N79006, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees during landing. The airplane was landing on runway 31 and impacted trees past the departure end of the runway. The winds were reported as 110 degrees at 8 knots with gusts to 14 knots. The private pilot and three passengers were not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight had departed Eagle River Union Airport, Eagle River, Wisconsin, on a local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed.
The pilot reported that when he flew over the airport at mid-field, the wind "was switching around to the point that runway 31 would be a better choice." He reported that as he was approaching runway 31 on short final, the airplane was not slowing down. He looked at the wind sock and it indicated that the wind was "almost directly behind me." He reported that he removed carburetor heat, applied full power, and raised the flaps. He reported that initially the airplane started to accelerate, but then it "seemed to slightly sink." He reported that all he could see was the tops of trees so he "pulled the nose up as high as he could to stall the airplane." The airplane settled through the trees. He reported that when it came to rest, he and the passengers exited the airplane.
The pilot information manual indicated the procedures for a balked landing (Go-around) were the following:
"In a balked landing (go-around) climb, reduce the wing flap setting to 20 degrees immediately after full power is applied. If obstacles must be cleared during the go-around, leave the wing flaps in the 10 degrees to 20 degrees range until the obstacles are cleared. After clearing any obstacles the flaps may be retracted as the airplane accelerates to the normal flaps-up climb speed of 80 to 90 MPH."
The pilot did not claim that there was anything wrong with the airplane prior to the impact.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N79006
- Reported as
- Cessna 172
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17257803
- Airframe hours
- 4,015
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E20, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Richard P. Williams
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 1, 1997 · 25 hours before
- Departed
- EGV
- Airport
- EGV · Eagle River, runway 31, 2,170 × 140 ft, grass/turf
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
- 58
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 215 total · 141 in this make and model · 129 as pilot in command · 4 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 110° at 8 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 54 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- EGV
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.