# NTSB FTW99LA167: Cessna 172D, N2460Y, Jonesboro, AR, June 12, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 12, 1999, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Jonesboro, AR - Location: 35.8423° N, 90.7043° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Jonesboro, AR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8423&lon=-90.7043&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46554 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW99LA167 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46554/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA167 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight planning and preparation, and her delayed aborted takeoff. Factors were the high density altitude and the tall grass on the airstrip. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, takeoff - aborted - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - airport facilities,runway overrun area - high obstruction(s) - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - proper climb rate - not attained, pilot in command - aborted takeoff - delayed, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The commercial pilot landed hard after she delayed aborting the takeoff from a grass airstrip with powerlines at the departure end. The engine was developed full power during the takeoff roll to the south with the flaps extended 10 degrees. About half way down the runway, at approximately 60 knots, she raised the nose of the airplane and became airborne. The airplane climbed to about 25 feet agl and drifted to the left of the runway as she maintained 60 knots in a nose-high attitude. When she applied back pressure, the stall warning horn sounded, so she relaxed the back pressure. The pilot became concerned that the airplane might not be able to clear the power lines at the departure end of the airstrip, and elected to abort the takeoff. The pilot reported a 'very hard landing' in a nose low attitude. The winds at the 2,500 feet long grass airstrip were reported as light. The airstrip was not reported to have any obstacles or powerlines when departing to the north. The grass at the airstrip was reported to be 6-inches tall. The temperature was reported as 'a very humid 85 degrees. ' Density altitude was calculated at 1,996 feet. ## Factual narrative On June 12, 1999, at 0930 central daylight time, a Cessna 172D airplane, N2460Y, was substantially damaged during a hard landing following an aborted takeoff from a grass airstrip near Jonesboro, Arkansas. The instrument rated commercial pilot and her 3 passengers were not injured. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by Swink Aviation of Pocahontas, Arkansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight for which a flight plan was not filed. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot reported to the FAA inspector that as part of the annual aviation day activities at Marty's Classic Airport she had planned a local orientation flight for three local "EAA Young Eagles." The pilot stated that she began her takeoff roll to the south with the flaps extended 10 degrees as she verified the engine was developing 2,600 rpm. About half way down the runway, at approximately 60 knots, she raised the nose of the airplane and became airborne. The airplane climbed to about 25 feet agl and drifted to the left side of the runway as she maintained 60 knots in a nose-high attitude. The pilot stated that when she applied back pressure, the stall warning horn sounded, so she relaxed the back pressure. The pilot became concerned that the airplane might not be able to clear the power lines at the departure end of the airstrip, and elected to abort the takeoff. The pilot reported that she entered a gentle right bank to get back over the runway, lowered the nose of the airplane and reduced the engine power to idle. She reported a "very hard landing" in a nose low attitude. Examination of the airplane by an FAA licensed mechanic and the operator revealed that the engine firewall sustained structural damage. Additionally, the propeller was damaged, the nose landing gear was offset, and the windshield cracked. The mechanic further stated that the airplane's fuel cells were nearly full (approximately 34 gallons). He added that the aircraft's propeller had been recently changed from a climb propeller to cruise propeller. The pilot and the operator reported that they calculated that the airplane was 80 to 90 pounds below its gross weight at the time of the accident. The operator reported that at the time of the accident, the winds at the 2,500 foot long grass airstrip were reported as light. The airstrip is not reported to have any obstacles or powerlines when departing to the north. The pilot reported that the grass on the airstrip was 6-inches tall. The temperature was reported as "a very humid 85 degrees. " The investigator-in-charge calculated the density altitude at 1,996 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2460Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2460Y-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N 17249760 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172D - Registry model: [Cessna 172D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172d) (registry code 2072410) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172-49760 - Airframe hours: 1780 - Engines: Continental O-300-2AB 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Greg Swink, doing business as Swink Aviation - Registered owner: William B. Thistlewood - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 2, 1999, 70 hours before - Airport: NONE, Marty'S Classic Airstrip, runway 18, 2,500 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,505 total, 1,100 in this make and model, 1,200 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: JBR, 5 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 19990612045469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990612045469A), Jun 12, 1999: Cessna 172D, Jonesboro, AR, No damage. (-23)On June 12, 1999, at 0930 central daylight time, a Cessna 172D airplane, N2460Y, was substantially damaged during a hard landing following an aborted… 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.