- Date
- January 4, 1998, 13:55 local (18:55 UTC)
- Place
- Blue Bell, PA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N5135RCessna 172M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 16, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980104000059A
- Case key
- 28272
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 attain the proper touchdown point, and his failure to make a go-around, while there was sufficient runway remaining.
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 pilot reported that the airplane touched down long, and subsequently ran off the departure end of the runway, onto an access road, and the nosegear collapsed. He said he briefly considered a go-around, and told his passenger that he was not going to be able to stop in time. He said there was no mechanical malfunction with the airplane.
Factual narrative
On January 4, 1998, at 1355 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172M, N5135R, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during an overrun at Wings Field Airport, Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated at Gaithersburg, Maryland, at 1245.
According to the pilot, the flight to Pennsylvania, was uneventful. He said, "...immediately after crossing the numbers[24], I descended to approximately 30 feet AGL and positioned the nose in a level attitude; airspeed approximately 70-75MPH. The airplane floated in a slightly nose high attitude. I touched down, and immediately applied brakes. I identified the end of the runway, briefly considered a go-around, then locked the brakes. I indicated to my passenger that it was going to be close. Next, I indicated we were not going to be able to stop in time... ." The airplane continued off the departure end of the runway, onto an access road, and the nosegear collapsed.
The runway was 2,625 feet long, and the pilot reported that the wind was variable. He had over 75 hours in make and model, and reported that there was no mechanical malfunction with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5135R
- Reported as
- Cessna 172M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17263352
- Airframe hours
- 8,000
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Congressional Flying Club Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · December 12, 1997 · 57 hours before
- Departed
- GAI · Gaithersburg, MD
- Destination
- N67
- Airport
- N67 · Wings Field, runway 24, 2,625 × 75 ft, asphalt
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
- 26
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 202 total · 77 in this make and model · 152 as pilot in command · 21 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- N67
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.