# NTSB IAD98LA081: Cessna 172G, N5907R, Dover, DE, July 18, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 18, 1998, 11:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Dover, DE - Coordinates: 39.090618, -75.719245 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0906&lon=-75.7192&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 20, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43264 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD98LA081 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43264/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD98LA081 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis According to the pilot, his flight was uneventful. He overflew the airport and elected to land on runway 22 over the trees. He said the sink rate was good, the airspeed was 70 mph, and the aircraft floated almost to midfield. He tried to go around, but the airplane was not building speed quick enough, and there were trees and power lines in the vicinity of the airport. The airplane exited the 2,533 foot-long runway, and struck a ditch. The pilot said there was no mechanical malfunction with the airplane. The reported winds at the time of the accident were from 320 degrees at 8 knots. ## Factual narrative On July 18, 1998, at 1145 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172G, N5907R, was substantially damaged when it collided with a ditch during the landing roll at the Chandelle Estates Airport, Dover, Delaware. The certificated private pilot was not injured, the passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated in Orange, Virginia. According to the pilot, his flight from Virginia was uneventful. He overflew the airport and elected to land on runway 22. He said, "...turn to final speed was 75 mph, high approach over the trees, good sink rate, speed 70 mph aircraft floated almost to midfield. Elected at this time to go around...aircraft was not building speed quick enough and trees and power lines were too close. Elected to keep aircraft on the field... ." The airplane exited the 2,533 foot-long runway, and struck a ditch. A witness on the southeast side of the runway said he saw the airplane report his position in the traffic pattern. He said he observed the airplane was "high and hot" on final approach. He said he watched the airplane continue down the runway and the touchdown point was past the half way marker. The pilot reported over 206 hours of total flight experience. He said he applied maximum braking, but he was unable to stop. He said that there was no mechanical malfunction with the airplane. The closest weather reporting station, 5 miles south of the accident site reported the winds from 320 degrees at 8 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5907R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5907R), registered now, S/N 17253576, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172G - Registry model: [Cessna 172G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172g) (registry code 2072420) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17253576 - Engines: Continental O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Glick Fields Incorporated - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: W93, ORANGE, VA - Destination: 0N4, DE - Airport: 0N4, Chandelle Estates, runway 22, 2,533 × 28 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 207 total, 73 in this make and model, 169 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 8 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: DOV, 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 19980718037649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980718037649A), Jul 18, 1998: Cessna 172G, Dover, DE, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot, theodore r. wallace, stated to this inspector, that he departed from orange county, Virginia airport and flew directly to Chandelle airport,… 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.