# NTSB ERA23LA057: Cessna 175, N7223M, Gilford, NH, November 10, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 10, 2022, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Gilford, NH - Coordinates: 43.57776, -71.403259 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5778&lon=-71.4033&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 106277 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA057 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106277/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106277 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA057 ## Probable cause The pilot’s decision to continue the approach to land in conditions where he was unable to see in front of the airplane due to sun glare, which resulted in in a collision a building. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Light condition: glare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 175, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md?model=2072502), [All aircraft, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/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 175, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072502), [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. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 175, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md?model=2072502), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Cessna 175, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2072502), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the amphibious airplane reported that while on final approach to runway 26 he had trouble viewing the runway due to glare from the setting sun. He recalled making “…continuous efforts to block the sun glare.” He planned to make a gradual descent on the final approach to get the best forward view and peripheral views of the area. While descending, he further described that “the brightness inside the cockpit was difficult to observe instruments. I descended towards what I was convinced was the runway. I remember nothing else from that time forward.” The airplane subsequently struck the roof of a business, and the wreckage came to rest next to the building in the parking lot. The airplane’s fuselage, both wings, empennage, and floats were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Based on this information, the airplane likely struck the building after the pilot allowed the airplane to descend too low on the approach to the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7223M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7223M), registered now, S/N 55523, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 175 - Registry model: [Cessna 175](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-175) (registry code 2072502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental GO-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-go-300-series) (registry code 17024, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 55523 - Year built: 1958 - Airframe hours: 3386 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Moosehead Enterprises LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 5, 2022 - Departed: 6ME6, East Sumner, ME - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: LCI, Laconia Muni - Equipment: ADS-B, Handheld GPS, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 10, 2022; seat: left; flight hours: 2,100 total, 1,400 in this make and model, 1,900 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Icing: Unknown - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: LCI, 1 nm away - METAR: METAR KLCI 101956Z AUTO 23010KT 10SM CLR 20/M02 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP203 T02001022= ## 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 20221110018069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221110018069A), Nov 10, 2022: Cessna 175, Gilford, NH, Destroyed. The aircraft landing gear struck a building 1500 ft short of runway 26 at laconia municipal airport (lci) while making a visual approach to runway 26. This… ## Other investigations on N7223M (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 LAX72FUG36](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX72FUG36), Nov 26, 1971: Cessna 175 (N7223M), Chino, CA, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106277. 7.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 6.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15099945&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 959 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15100625&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20statement_R%20Welch_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot interview (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 145 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15100705&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20_%20Pilot%20Interview_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 593 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15100413&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA23LA057%20Investigative%20Photographs-Rel.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.