- Date
- February 14, 2011, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place
- Plattsburgh, NY
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N2593LCessna 172H
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 8, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20110214002529A
- Case key
- 78366
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 student pilot's loss of directional control during the landing flare in gusting wind conditions and the certified flight instructor's delayed remedial action.
Findings · 3
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 certified flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot reported that they were practicing touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. During the second approach, the airplane's airspeed and altitude decreased more than they intended. The left wing contacted the runway resulting in substantial damage. The CFI took authority over the flight controls and landed the airplane. While taxiing to the ramp, they observed that the wind had increased more than reported. The recorded wind conditions at the airport, prior to and after the accident, were variable from 7 to 10 knots, with gusts to 17 knots. The CFI reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane.
Factual narrative
The flight instructor and student reported that they were practicing touch-and-go takeoffs and landings, and during the second approach, the airplane's airspeed and altitude decreased further than intended. Subsequently, the left wing contacted the runway resulting in substantial damage to the left wing tip. The flight instructor took control and landed the airplane. While taxiing to the ramp, they observed that the winds had increased more than reported. The winds recorded at the airport, prior to and after the accident, were variable from the west and south at 7 to 10 knots, and gusting up to 17 knots. The flight instructor reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2593L
- Reported as
- Cessna 172H
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17255793
- Engine
- Cont Motor O-300D, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Vermont Flight Academy, Inc
- Registered owner
- Just Plane Nuts Flying Club LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · January 9, 2011
- Departed
- KBTV · Burlington, VT
- Destination
- KBTV · Burlington, VT
- Airport
- KPBG · Plattsburgh International, runway 17, 11,758 × 200 ft, concrete
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 35
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 12, 2010
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 3,380 total · 604 in this make and model · 1,994 as pilot in command · 44 in the last 90 days · 14 in the last 30 days
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 27
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 14 total · 14 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,900 ft broken
- Temperature
- 45 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.23 inHg
- Observed at
- PBG
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 3, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 279 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.