# NTSB IAD02LA077: Cessna 172, N43860, Barre, VT, July 15, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 15, 2002, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Barre, VT - Coordinates: 44.2, -72.5 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.2000&lon=-72.5000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 26, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 55323 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD02LA077 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55323/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55323 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD02LA077 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during a go-around attempt, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and a subsequent impact with trees. A factor was the pilot's delayed initiation of the go-around. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot decided to practice a simulated engine failure, to a landing, at a private airstrip. The airstrip was oriented east-west, with an uphill incline toward the east. The strip was 1,200 feet long and 50 feet wide, and takeoffs and landings could only be made to the east. According to the pilot, he performed a circling descent and prepared for a landing to the east. During the landing flare, the airplane was "pushed toward the trees" at the departure end of the runway, by a "quartering tailwind." The pilot initiated a go-around, but the airplane did not have enough airspeed to maintain flight, and it "stalled" into the trees. Winds were from 260 degrees at 3 knots. ## Factual narrative On July 15, 2002, at 1400 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N43860, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during a go-around at a private airstrip in Barre, Vermont. The certificated private pilot/owner was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight which originated at Edward F. Knapp State Airport (MPV), Barre/Montpelier, Vermont. The local personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, as he was returning to Montpelier, he noticed "Bailey Field", a private airstrip, and decided to practice a simulated engine failure landing. He checked the windsock prior to landing; however, there appeared to be a hole in it, and it was not moving. The pilot estimated the winds were from the northwest. The landing strip was oriented east-west with an uphill incline toward the east. The strip was 1,200 feet long and 50 feet wide, and takeoffs and landings could only be performed to the east. The pilot performed a circling descent, deployed 40 degrees of flaps, and prepared for a landing to the east. During the landing flare, the airplane was "pushed toward the trees" at the departure end of the runway, by a "quartering tailwind." The pilot initiated a go-around, but the airplane did not have enough airspeed to maintain flight, and it "stalled" into the trees. The pilot stated there were no mechanical problems with the airplane, and he "made a bad decision." He reported 517 hours of total flight experience, 236 of which were in make and model. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector performed an on-scene examination of the airplane. According to the inspector, the airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The inspector did not observe any mechanical anomalies. In addition, the inspector reported that the airstrip was 2,000 feet long and 50 feet wide. The weather reported at Montpellier, about 3 miles to the west, at 1351, included winds from 260 degrees at 3 knots, 10 miles visibility, scattered clouds at 3,600 feet, temperature 74 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 63 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure of 29.87 inches Hg. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N43860](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N43860), registered now, S/N R172-0124 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna R172E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r172e) (registry code 2072413) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: R172-0124 - Airframe hours: 6100 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jeffrey B Murray - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2001, 100 hours before - Departed: MPV, Montpelier, VT - Destination: NONE, Barre, VT - Airport: NONE, Bailey Field, runway 09, 2,000 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 23, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 517 total, 236 in this make and model, 468 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,900 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: MPV, 3 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 20020715017429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020715017429A), Jul 15, 2002: Cessna R172E, Barre, VT, No damage. (-23) While landing at bailey field, the pilot allowed the aircraft to drift toward the trees. With flaps selected at 40 degrees and full power, the aircraft… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 24, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55323. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461731&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Summaries of Interview (item 2, .PDF, 86 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40180015&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Summaries%20of%20Interview-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40180016&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-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. --- 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.