- Date
- April 20, 2013, 13:05 local (17:05 UTC)
- Place
- Stow, MA
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N739CKCessna 172N
- Defining event
- Landing: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 23, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20130420004659A
- Case key
- 86692
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 failure to maintain directional control while landing in gusty wind conditions.
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
According to the pilot, the airplane was on approach to runway 30, and, about 75 feet above the ground, the airplane encountered a loss of lift due to “wind shear.” The pilot added power to attempt a go-around, but the airplane touched down on the runway and bounced. A gust of wind then pushed the airplane to the left of the runway. The pilot reduced the power, and he attempted to turn back to the runway; however, the airplane impacted trees off the side of the runway. A postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed substantial damage to the right and left wings. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The reported wind at an airport located about 10 miles east of the accident site was 280 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 15 knots.
Factual narrative
According to the pilot, the airplane was on approach to runway 30, and about 75 feet above the ground, when it encountered a loss of lift due to “wind shear.” He added engine power to attempt a go-around, but the airplane touched down on the runway and bounced. A gust of wind then pushed the airplane to the left of the runway. The pilot responded by reducing engine power and attempted to turn back to the runway; however, the airplane impacted trees off the side of the runway. A postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed substantial damage to the right and left wings. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Winds reported at airport located about 10 miles east of the accident site were from 280 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 15 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N739CK
- Reported as
- Cessna 172N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17270435
- Airframe hours
- 5,834
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 SERIES, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Noble Airventure
- Registered owner
- Noble Airventure
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · April 3, 2013 · 30 hours before
- Departed
- 6B6 · Stow, MA
- Destination
- 6B6 · Stow, MA
- Airport
- 6B6 · Minute Man Airfield, runway 30, 1,600 × 70 ft, dirt
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
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 25
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 11, 2012
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 602 total · 298 in this make and model · 437 as pilot in command · 68 in the last 90 days · 44 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 12 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 54 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.85 inHg
- Observed at
- BED, 10 nm away
Docket · 5
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 10, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 5.9 MB 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.