MIA08CA179

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172SP · South Harpswell, ME · September 1, 2008

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
September 1, 2008, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC)
Place
South Harpswell, ME
Injuries
3 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N251SPCessna 172SP
Defining event
Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report January 22, 2009
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA/FSDO
Case key
68840

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while landing in gusty winds.

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.

Wind: sudden wind shiftEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensateCessna 172S: 1 caseAll aircraft: 114 casesProbable cause
Aircraft capability: climb capabilityAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceededCessna 172S: 1 caseAll aircraft: 183 cases
Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotCessna 172S: 206 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause

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 prior to landing he believed that he had a quartering head wind between 6 and 8 knots. Once over runway 14 at 10 feet agl, "suddenly the wind shifted and we were lifted up and keeled over to the right. Once I leveled the wings I realized that we were quickly running out of runway." The pilot stated that he attempted a go-around; he put in full power and raised the flaps to 20 degrees. However, he did not have enough power or clearance to stay out of the trees. The pilot banked left to avoid the trees and "dropped" the airplane in a field between houses. The airplane hit the ground and then skidded to a stop into a tree. The reported weather conditions at Brunswick, Maine, at the time of the accident was visual meteorological conditions with winds at 340 degrees at 19 knots gusting to 27 knots.

Factual narrative

The pilot stated that prior to landing he believed that he had a quartering head wind between 6 and 8 knots. Once over runway 14 at about 10 feet agl., "suddenly the wind shifted and we were lifted up and keeled over to the right. Once I leveled the wings I realized that we were quickly running out of runway." The pilot stated that he attempted a go-around; he put in full power and raised the flaps to 20 degrees. However, he did not have enough power or clearance to stay out of the trees. The pilot banked left to avoid the trees and "dropped" the airplane in a field between houses. The airplane hit the ground and then skidded to a stop into a tree. The reported weather conditions at Brunswick, Maine, at the time of the accident was visual meteorological conditions with winds at 340 degrees at 19 knots gusting to 27 knots. The pilot said he and the two passengers were out of the airplane in 15 seconds. Damage to the airplane consisted of the left wing and empennage. Emergency responders arrived within 5 minutes, but no one was injured. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.

Aircraft

Registration
N251SP
Reported as
Cessna 172SP
Category
Airplane
Serial number
172S8227
Engine
Lycoming IO360-L2A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Ari Meisel
Registered owner
Ari Meisel
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · September 1, 2007 · 52 hours before
Departed
PSM · Portsmouth, NH
Destination
ME33 · South Harpswell, ME
Airport
ME33 · Farr Field, runway 14, 1,900 × 100 ft, grass/turf

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
25
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
December 1, 2006
Seat
Left
Flight hours
142 total · 142 in this make and model · 90 as pilot in command · 1 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
340° at 19 knots, gusting 27
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
79 °F, dew point 43 °F
Altimeter
30.01 inHg
Observed at
NHZ