- Date
- September 25, 2010, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place
- Franconia, NH
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N5295YCessna 172S
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR go-around: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 16, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20100925046009A
- Case key
- 77437
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 initiating a go-around, which resulted in an in-flight collision with a fence.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to fly his relative in the traffic pattern. Shortly after takeoff from runway 36, he remained in the traffic pattern and noticed personnel associated with gliders setting up for launches using runway 18. He was informed that the wind had shifted and opted to land on runway 18. The pilot reported that he made a higher approach than normal due to a glider being positioned at the threshold of runway 18. During landing, the wind shifted and he recognized that the airplane was not slowing. He initiated a go-around and just as the airplane was clearing a fence at the departure end of the runway, it encountered a downdraft and a gust. Despite the pilot applying aft elevator control, the airplane collided with the fence. The pilot continued the go-around procedure and looked outside the airplane noticing damage to a wheel pant; he thought the airplane appeared to be flying normally. Following an uneventful landing on runway 36, the pilot secured the airplane and inspected it for damage. The leading edges of both horizontal stabilizers, the bottom side of the left horizontal stabilizer, and the leading edge of the left elevator exhibited damage.
Factual narrative
The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to fly his sister around the traffic pattern. After engine start he taxied to runway 36, and departed. Shortly after takeoff, he remained in the traffic pattern and noticed personnel associated with gliders setting up for launches using runway 18. He was informed that the wind had shifted and was picking up from the south. He returned for landing on runway 18, and reported the approach was a bit high due to a glider that was being positioned at the threshold of runway 18. About that time, the wind shifted from the north as he was landing to the south. He recognized that the airplane was not slowing and initiated a go-around. While about clear of a fence at the departure end of the runway, the flight airplane encountered a downdraft and a gust. He The pilot applied aft elevator control but a portion of the airplane collided with the fence. He continued the go-around and looked outside the airplane noticing damage to a wheel pant; the airplane was flying normally at that time. At that moment, the glider business operator said that the wind was now blowing from the north again and that they were switching back to runway 36. Following an uneventful landing the pilot secured the airplane and inspected it for damage. The leading edges of both horizontal stabilizers, the bottom side of the left horizontal stabilizer, and also the leading edge of the left elevator exhibited damage.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5295Y
- Reported as
- Cessna 172S
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 172S9236
- Airframe hours
- 3,932
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-L2A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Air America LLC
- Registered owner
- Mike Bravo LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · August 10, 2010
- Departed
- 1B5 · Franconia, NH
- Destination
- 1B5 · Franconia, NH
- Airport
- 1B5 · Franconia Airport, runway 18, 2,305 × 150 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
- 64
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 22, 2010
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 30,610 total · 10,000 in this make and model · 30,500 as pilot in command · 150 in the last 90 days · 25 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.72 inHg
- Observed at
- HIE, 14 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 7, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 778 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N5295Y · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.