- Date
- April 28, 2017, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- Marathon, NY
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N3224TCessna 177
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 20, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20170428008559A
- Case key
- 95081
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 altitude and airspeed while maneuvering at a low altitude.
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
The pilot stated that, during the second low pass over a friend's grass airstrip, the airplane was "low and slow" and unable to maintain altitude. He applied throttle; however, he "got behind the airplane, and it got him." Subsequently, the airplane settled, touched down, and overran the north end of the runway. The airplane then hit a road, became airborne shortly, and came to rest nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot stated that during the second low pass over a friend's grass airstrip, the airplane was "low and slow" and unable to maintain altitude. He applied throttle, however he "got behind the airplane and it got him". Subsequently, the airplane settled, touched down, and overran the north end of the runway. The airplane then encountered a road, became airborne for a short time, and came to rest nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, fuselage and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3224T
- Reported as
- Cessna 177 (UNDESIGNAT)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17700524
- Built
- 1968
- Airframe hours
- 1,913
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Unknown · April 24, 2017
- Departed
- 4N7 · Greene, NY
- Destination
- N03 · Cortland, NY
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Equipment
- None
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
- 65
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 4, 2016
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 652 total · 138 in this make and model · 652 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.02 inHg
- Observed at
- KBGM, 20 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 22, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.9 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.