# NTSB ERA13CA378: Cessna 172R, N392ES, Shelter Island, NY, August 25, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 25, 2013, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Shelter Island, NY
- Coordinates: 41.067779, -72.323608
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0678&lon=-72.3236&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 21, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 87864
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA378
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87864/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87864
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA378

## Probable cause

The pilot did not attain the proper touchdown point on the runway, which resulted in a runway excursion.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

In an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the pilot stated that he had aborted two previous landing attempts, and landed “long” on the 1,700-foot turf runway. The airplane passed over a “hump” in the runway, became airborne again, touched down, and the pilot applied the brakes. The braking action was ineffective due to the freshly-cut grass clippings on the runway, and the pilot steered the airplane into thick brush and a pond rather than overrun the departure end of the runway. Interpolation of the airplane manufacturer’s landing distance chart revealed that the required landing distance over a 50-foot obstacle was approximately 1,300 feet. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

In an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the pilot stated that he had aborted two previous landing attempts, and landed “long” on the 1,700-foot turf runway. The airplane passed over a “hump” in the runway, became airborne again, touched down, and the pilot applied the brakes. The braking action was ineffective due to the freshly-cut grass clippings on the runway, and the pilot steered the airplane into thick brush and a pond rather than overrun the departure end of the runway. Interpolation of the airplane manufacturer’s landing distance chart revealed that the required landing distance over a 50-foot obstacle was approximately 1,300 feet. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N392ES](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N392ES-2018-03-13), registration cancelled 2018-03-13, S/N 17280132, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172R
- Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17280132
- Airframe hours: 5030
- Engines: LYCOMING I0360 SER A&C 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Richmond Pilots Corp
- Registered owner: Richmond Pilots Corp
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 8, 2013
- Departed: HTO, East Hampton, NY
- Destination: PVT, Shelter Island, NY
- Airport: PVT, Klenawicus Airfield, runway 20, 1,700 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 303 total, 303 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.31 inHg
- Observed at: HTO, 7 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 20130825015409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130825015409A), Aug 25, 2013: Cessna 172R, Shelter Island, NY, Destroyed. Pilot understood that his decision to continue the landing caused the accident.

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 25, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87864. 626 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 Memorandum for Record (item 1, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401180&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20Memorandum%20for%20Record-Master.PDF
- Pilot Interview Summary (FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 22 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400362&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Interview%20Summary%20(FAA)-Redacted.PDF
- Passenger Interview Summaries (FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 20 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400364&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Interview%20Summaries%20(FAA)-Master.PDF
- Witness Interview Summary (FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 17 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400365&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Interview%20Summary%20(FAA)-Redacted.PDF
- Annual Inspection Record (item 5, .PDF, 295 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400366&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Annual%20Inspection%20Record-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1 - View of Airplane As Found (item 6, .PDF, 122 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400367&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20View%20of%20Airplane%20As%20Found-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 - View of Airplane After Recovery (item 7, .PDF, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401182&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20View%20of%20Airplane%20After%20Recovery-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.

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