- Date
- October 10, 2011, 11:55 local (15:55 UTC)
- Place
- Honesdale, PA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N34218Cessna 177B
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR pattern final: Miscellaneous/other
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 16, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20111010023149A
- Case key
- 82032
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 excessive airspeed during final approach and his delayed decision to abort the landing, resulting in the in-flight collision with trees during the go-around.
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, while on final approach to the 2,420-foot-long, dry, asphalt runway with the flaps set to 30 degrees (full down), the airplane was a little too fast at 85 to 90 mph, instead of 70 mph. He stated that he did not perceive that the airplane floated over the runway but that, after touchdown, he realized there was insufficient runway remaining to stop. He added power to go around, raised the flaps incrementally, and continued ahead, but the airplane collided with trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot stated that there was nothing mechanically wrong with the airplane and that the accident could have been avoided by being on speed.
Factual narrative
The pilot stated that he proceeded to the destination airport and entered the traffic pattern for runway 36, which is a 2,420 foot-long asphalt runway that was dry. While on final approach with the flaps set to 30 degrees (full down) he reported that he was a little too fast (85 to 90 miles-per-hour) instead of 70 miles-per-hour. He stated that he did not perceive to float over the runway but after touchdown, he realized there was insufficient runway remaining to stop. He added power to go-around and raised the flaps incrementally; the engine responded. He continued ahead and while airborne, the airplane collided with trees. He confirmed there was nothing mechanically wrong with the airplane, and further stated that the accident could have been avoided by being on-speed.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N34218
- Reported as
- Cessna 177B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17701712
- Airframe hours
- 2,222
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A1F6, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Gilbert Jeffrey S
- Registered owner
- Gilbert Jeffrey S
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 1, 2010
- Departed
- MSV · Monticello, NY
- Destination
- N30 · Honesdale, PA
- Airport
- N30 · Cherry Ridge Airport, runway 36, 2,420 × 50 ft, asphalt
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
- 66
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- November 1, 2009
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 300 total · 100 in this make and model · 100 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 10° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.29 inHg
- Observed at
- MSV, 23 nm away
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 28, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 408 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.