- Date
- April 25, 2001, 22:20 local (Apr 26, 2001, 03:20 UTC)
- Place
- N. Little Rock, AR
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N3860LCessna 172G
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/bright
- Status
- Completed · report July 30, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20010426007279A
- Case key
- 52141
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 delayed go-around on landing.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The single-engine airplane was on final approach, and the pilot "flared too high" and experienced a high sink rate. The pilot applied power; however, it was "too late and the airplane impacted the runway hard and bounced." The airplane landed on the runway, veered off of the runway, and impacted trees. The pilot stated that he could have prevented the accident by "initiat[ing a] go-around sooner."
Factual narrative
On April 25, 2001, at 2220 central daylight time, a Cessna 172G single-engine airplane, N3860L, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees following a loss of control on landing at the North Little Rock Municipal Airport, North Little Rock, Arkansas. The private pilot and his two passengers were not injured. The airplane was registered to a private individual. Bright night visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight originated from Crossett, Arkansas, approximately 2100.
According to the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site and spoke with the pilot, the airplane was on final approach, and the pilot "flared too high" and experienced a high sink rate. The pilot applied power; however, it was "too late and the airplane impacted the runway hard and bounced." The airplane landed on the runway, veered off of the runway, and impacted trees.
The FAA inspector stated that the wings, lift struts, and landing gear sustained structural damage.
In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), under the section titled "Recommendations (How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented)," the pilot wrote "initiate go-around sooner."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3860L
- Reported as
- Cessna 172G
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17254029
- Engine
- Continental O-300-D, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- James A. Walker
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- CRT · Crossett, AR
- Destination
- 1M1 · N. Little Rock, AR
- Airport
- 1M1 · North Little Rock Municipal, runway 23, 4,462 × 75 ft, concrete
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
- 55
- Injuries
- None
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- November 2, 2000
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 279 total · 207 in this make and model · 221 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/bright
- Wind
- 0° at 0 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N3860L · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.