# NTSB ERA11CA331: Cessna 172, N8895B, Ghent, NY, June 8, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 8, 2011, 17:55 local (21:55 UTC) - Place: Ghent, NY - Coordinates: 42.353889, -73.635559 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3539&lon=-73.6356&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 17, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 80719 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA331 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80719/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80719 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA331 ## Probable cause The pilot's delayed decision to abort the landing and execute a go-around. ## 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 · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2072402), [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. - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072402), [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 172, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, several minutes after takeoff the weather began to deteriorate and the sky turned black with convective activity reported in the area. He decided to divert to a nearby airport which had a 4,000-foot long by 75-foot wide turf runway. As the pilot approached the runway he could not determine where the approach end was located. The airplane approached the runway high and fast. The pilot did not think he would be able to stop the airplane before reaching the end of the runway, so he aborted the landing. One witness reported that the airplane aborted the landing with less than 1/4 of the runway's total length remaining. During the attempted climb out, the pilot thought that the engine felt less powerful but could not recall any specific abnormal indications. Without sufficient airspeed to climb above approaching trees, the pilot stalled the airplane into a pond, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and empennage. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, several minutes after takeoff the weather began to deteriorate and the sky turned black with convective activity reported in the area. He decided to divert to a nearby airport which had a 4,000-foot long by 75-foot wide turf runway. As the pilot approached the runway he could not determine where the approach end was located. The airplane approached the runway high and fast. The pilot did not think he would be able to stop the airplane before reaching the end of the runway, so he aborted the landing. One witness reported that the airplane aborted the landing with less than 1/4 of the runway's total length remaining. During the attempted climb out, the pilot felt that the engine felt less powerful and but could not recall any specific abnormal indications. Without sufficient airspeed to climb above approaching trees, the pilot stalled the airplane into a pond, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and empennage. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector following the accident revealed no evidence of any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures. The weather conditions reported at an airport 5 nautical miles southwest, about the time of the accident included a temperature of 35 degrees Celsius and a left quartering tailwind at 6 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8895B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8895B-2017-09-26), registration cancelled 2017-09-26, S/N 36595, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 36595 - Airframe hours: 2300 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-300 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Meranda Seth - Registered owner: Meranda Seth - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 2, 2010 - Departed: PSF, Pittsfield, MA - Destination: 0G7, Seneca Falls, NY - Airport: NY1, Kline Kill Airport, runway 01, 4,000 × 75 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 8, 2010; seat: front; flight hours: 80 total, 80 in this make and model, 65 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: 1B1, 5 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 20110608016239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110608016239A), Jun 8, 2011: Cessna 172, Valatie, NY, Substantial damage. This office investigated the accident of N8895B, a cesena skyhawk 172, that occurred on 06/08/2011 at approximately 1755 local EDT.upon arrival at the scene we… ## Other investigations on N8895B (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI71FBA32](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI71FBA32), Mar 10, 1971: Cessna 172 (N8895B), Frankfort, IN, substantial damage ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 24, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80719. 2.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 463 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350066&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Interview Summary (item 2, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350447&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF - Witness Interview Summary (item 3, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350448&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Interview Summary (item 4, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350449&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 5, .PDF, 108 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349923&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Photo of Airplane Damage (Courtesy of FAA, 1 of 3) (item 6, .PDF, 773 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350481&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20of%20Airplane%20Damage%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA,%201%20of%203)-Master.PDF - Photo of Airplane Damage (Courtesy of FAA, 2 of 3) (item 7, .PDF, 377 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350483&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20of%20Airplane%20Damage%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA,%202%20of%203)-Master.PDF - Photo of Airplane Damage (Courtesy of FAA, 3 of 3) (item 8, .PDF, 354 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350484&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20of%20Airplane%20Damage%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA,%203%20of%203)-Master.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.