# NTSB MIA98LA026: Cessna 172I, N46029, Cummings, GA, November 9, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 9, 1997, 17:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Cummings, GA - Coordinates: 34.289138, -84.180137 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2891&lon=-84.1801&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 10, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38427 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA026 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38427/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA026 ## Probable cause the pilot landed the airplane with a tailwind condition, too long and too fast for the runway conditions. ## Analysis The pilot stated that he attempted to land two times. On the second landing on runway 03, he 'touched down about halfway down the runway,' he applied brakes, and the airplane slowed down. When it looked as though the airplane would not stop he applied power to go-around and the airplane struck trees. The pilot said that when he started his approach it looked to him, based on the wind sock, that the winds were across the runway from his left to the right. A witness saw the airplane landing downwind and long. The reported winds were from 300 degrees at 16 knots. ## Factual narrative On November 9, 1997, about 1715 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172I, N46029, registered to a private owner, operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91, personal flight, impacted with trees while attempting a go-around at Mathis Airport, Cummings, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private pilot was seriously injured, and one passenger received minor injures. The flight had departed from Tampa, Florida, about 1300. According to the pilot's statement on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, he entered the airport's traffic pattern from the southwest on a crosswind for runway 03. He decided to "over fly" the airport at an altitude of "50 to 70 feet agl [above ground level] to look at [the] runway condition and wind velocity and direction by windsock." He determined that there was a "crosswind from left to right 10-15 mph." In addition, the pilot wrote in his statement, "runway narrow with airplanes tied down 30 feet to [the] left of runway and 20 to 30 feet below runway surface-no guard rail." On the first landing the pilot said he slowed the approach to "80 mph" on the downwind leg and "70" mph on the final approach. He did not like the "feel of the landing" and aborted. The airplane did not touchdown. On the second landing attempt, he was high over a hill at the approach end of runway 03, and "in a slip to loose altitude." The pilot said, "... flair over end, touched down about halfway down runway and applied brakes hard. Did not think I had enough runway to brake to a full stop so I applied full throttle to go around and became airborne...soon after the right landing gear struck a tree top turning 30 degrees right...nose down...the right wing struck a tree then the left wing struck another tree." Runway 03 was 1,550 long, 20 feet wide, and sloped downhill. According to the FAA inspector's statement, "...a witness stated the aircraft landed downwind and long." The reported winds were from 300 degrees at 16 knots. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, landing - aborted - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N46029](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N46029-1998-07-28), registration cancelled 1998-07-28, S/N 17256999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172I - Registry model: [Cessna 172I](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172i) (registry code 2072426) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17256999 - Airframe hours: 3660 - Engines: Lycoming O-300-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Edward L. Brainard - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 4, 1997, 24 hours before - Departed: MLJ, MILLEDGEVILLE, GA - Destination: 84A - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: 84A, Mathis, runway 3, 1,550 × 20 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,181 total, 1,162 in this make and model, 1,156 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 12 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: PDK, 25 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 19971109038929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971109038929A), Nov 9, 1997: Cessna 172L, Cumming, GA, Substantial damage. Pilot unable to stop. Atempted fo around. Collided with trees. (-23) edward l. brainard, jr., piloting CE-172 N46029 overshot the runway at Mathis 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.