ERA11CA273

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172M · Suchez, GA · April 30, 2011

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
April 30, 2011, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC)
Place
Suchez, GA
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N12839Cessna 172M
Defining event
Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area overshoot
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report October 3, 2011
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Eastern Region Aviation
Parties
FAA/FSDO
FAA report
20110430007459A
Case key
78998

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 failure of the pilot to initiate a go-around and his excessive airspeed on the final landing approach.

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.

Action: lack of actionPersonnel issues › Action/decision · PilotCessna 172M: 15 casesAll aircraft: 792 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: airspeedAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operationCessna 172M: 24 casesAll aircraft: 1,681 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide pathAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operationCessna 172M: 15 casesAll aircraft: 809 casesProbable cause

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 he overflew the airstrip to observe the windsock and noted that the wind favored runway 2, which was a 2,000 foot-long grass runway. He flew an approach to that runway, but executed a go-around because the airplane was too high. He remained in the traffic pattern and the airplane touched down at a point 800 to 1,000 feet from the approach end of the runway at 90 mph that was about 20 mph faster than normal. He later stated that at touchdown the wind shifted. After touchdown on the wet grass, he applied the brakes but the airplane would not stop. Because he was too far down the runway to perform a go-around, he continued on the ground with the brakes applied. The airplane traveled off the end of the runway where the right wing collided with a fence. The airplane then traveled through a ditch and came to rest upright in a field. The pilot reported that there was no preimpact failure or malfunction with the airplane or its systems. Postaccident inspection of the airplane and airstrip revealed damage to the right wing, including the lift strut. Marks on the runway revealed the airplane touched down about 800 feet before the departure end of the runway.

Factual narrative

The pilot stated that he had overflew the airstrip to observe the windsock and noted that the wind favored runway 02, which is a 2,000 foot-long grass runway. He flew an approach to that runway, but executed a go-around because the flight was too high. He remained in the traffic pattern and with the flaps set to 40 degrees, the airplane touched down at a point 800 to 1,000 feet from the approach end of the runway at 90 mph; he typically lands at 70 mph. He later stated that at touchdown, the wind shifted. After touchdown on the grass which was wet, he applied the brakes but the airplane would not stop. Because he was too far down the runway to perform a go-around, he continued on the ground with the brakes applied. The airplane traveled off the end of the runway where the right wing collided with a fence. The airplane then traveled through a ditch and came to rest upright in a field. The pilot reported there was no preimpact failure or malfunction with the airplane or its systems. Postaccident inspection of the airplane and airstrip by a FAA inspector revealed damage to the right wing including the lift strut. Marks on the runway revealed the airplane touched down about 800 feet before the departure end of the runway.

Aircraft

Registration
N12839
Reported as
Cessna 172M
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17262303
Airframe hours
7,473
Engine
Lycoming 0-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Roy D. Harris
Registered owner
Roy D. Harris
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · February 7, 2011
Departed
DZJ · Blairesville, GA
Destination
GA87 · Suchez, GA
Airport
GA87 · High Valley Airpark, runway 02, 2,000 × 75 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
70
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
June 2, 2010
Seat
Left
Flight hours
3,700 total · 2,800 in this make and model · 3,700 as pilot in command · 24 in the last 90 days · 18 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
140° at 8 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
77 °F, dew point 45 °F
Altimeter
30.07 inHg
Observed at
GVL, 27 nm away

Docket · 4

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 9, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 678 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.