# NTSB ERA10CA278: Cessna 172S, N169ER, East Haddam, CT, May 24, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 24, 2010, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: East Haddam, CT - Coordinates: 41.445556, -72.455558 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4456&lon=-72.4556&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: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76072 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA278 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76072/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76072 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA278 ## Probable cause The pilot's delayed decision to attempt a go-around, and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control while landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 66 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 206 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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 172S, 49 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was attempting to land on runway 32, a 2,120-foot-long, 50-foot-wide, asphalt runway, when he realized he was going to land "long," and attempted a go-around. He applied full throttle; however, the airplane touched down about halfway down the runway, and veered to the left. The airplane departed the left side of runway, and came to rest on grass about 75 feet from the runway. The nose gear separated and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and right horizontal stabilizer. The pilot stated that he did not experience any mechanical anomalies during the flight. He reported about 175 hours of total flight experience, all accumulated in the same make and model as the accident airplane. He also reported that winds at the time of the accident were from 200 degrees at 5 knots. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he was attempting to land on runway 32, a 2,120-foot-long, 50-foot-wide, asphalt runway, when he realized he was going to land "long," and attempted a go-around. He applied full throttle; however, the airplane touched down about halfway down the runway, and veered to the left. The airplane departed the left side of runway, and came to rest on grass about 75 feet from the runway. The nose gear separated and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and right horizontal stabilizer. The pilot stated he did not experience any mechanical anomalies during the flight. He reported about 175 hours of total flight experience, all accumulated in the same make and model as the accident airplane. He also reported that winds at the time of the accident were from 200 degrees at 5 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N169ER](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N169ER-2018-01-11), registration cancelled 2018-01-11, S/N 172S10416, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S10416 - Airframe hours: 2045 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Academy of Aviation, LLC. - Registered owner: E & R Aviation Services Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 5, 2010, 55 hours before - Departed: FRG, Farmingdale, NY - Destination: 42B, East Haddam, CT - Airport: 42B, Goodspeed, runway 32, 2,120 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 18, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 176 total, 176 in this make and model, 82 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: HFD, 20 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 20100524005759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100524005759A), May 24, 2010: Cessna 172S, East Haddam, CT, Substantial damage. Pilots route of flight was from the farmingdale airport (frg) to the goodspeed airport in CT (42B). Departure time was 16:50 local with arrival time of 17:29… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 21, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76072. 750 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2 (item 1, .PDF, 390 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331763&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%2F2-Redacted.PDF - Pilot and Witness Statements (item 2, .PDF, 175 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331764&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20and%20Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 185 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331765&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF 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.