# NTSB ERA09CA077: Cessna 172I, N35540, Frederick, MD, November 27, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 27, 2008, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Frederick, MD - Coordinates: 39.417221, -77.371109 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4172&lon=-77.3711&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 24, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 69524 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA077 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69524/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA077 ## Probable cause The student pilot's delayed decision to abort the landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172I, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072426), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Cessna 172I, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2072426), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172I, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2072426), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172I, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072426), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172I, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072426), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot of the Cessna 172I stated that following an uneventful local flight, he returned to his home airport to practice takeoffs and landings. During the second approach, just above the runway, the pilot realized that the airplane was "low and slow," so he increased engine power. The airplane's descent rate did not change appreciably, and with the airplane drifting toward the left, the pilot decided to abort the landing. The pilot subsequently increased engine power to full, and kept the airplane's pitch attitude level. Shortly thereafter, the pilot heard the landing gear strike the top of the precision approach path indicator light box. The pilot attempted to "set the airplane down" and the nose landing gear struck the edge of the runway, collapsing it, and resulted in substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot did not report any mechanical anomalies associated with the airplane. ## Factual narrative The student pilot of the Cessna 172I stated that following an uneventful local flight, he returned to his home airport to practice takeoffs and landings. During the second approach, just above the runway, the pilot realized that the airplane was "low and slow," so he increased engine power. The airplane's descent rate did not change appreciably, and with the airplane drifting toward the left, the pilot decided to abort the landing. The pilot subsequently increased engine power to full, and kept the airplane's pitch attitude level. Shortly thereafter, the pilot heard the landing gear strike the top of the precision approach path indicator light box. The pilot attempted to "set the airplane down" and the nose landing gear struck the edge of the runway, collapsing it, and resulted in substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot did not report any mechanical anomalies associated with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N35540](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N35540-2018-02-15), registration cancelled 2018-02-15, S/N 17256821, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172I - Registry model: [Cessna 172I](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172i) (registry code 2072426) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17256821 - Airframe hours: 5861 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Sky Hi Inc - Registered owner: Sky Hi Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 10, 2008 - Departed: FDK, Frederick, MD - Destination: FDK, Frederick, MD - Airport: FDK, Frederick Municipal Airport, runway 23, 5,220 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 115 total, 70 in this make and model, 39 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: FDK, 1 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20081127853009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081127853009A), Nov 27, 2008: Cessna 172I, Frederick, MD, Substantial damage. Pilot let the aircraft get low and slow on final approach to runway 23. The aircraft drifted left of the runway and the landing gear contacted the PAPI light… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.