# NTSB NYC00LA095: Cessna 172, N6261E, New Brighton, PA, March 19, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 19, 2000, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: New Brighton, PA - Coordinates: 40.72908, -80.299041 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7291&lon=-80.2990&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 4, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48811 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC00LA095 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48811/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA095 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusty wind conditions. A factor was the windshear encountered on final approach. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - weather condition - windshear (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot was making an approach towards the east, to an east-west, 1,500-foot grass airstrip. The airstrip was located in an area of rolling hills and valleys. The approach was flown over a valley, with the final segment flown over an up-slope of a hill. The runway threshold was on top of that hill. On short final, the airplane encountered windshear. The pilot added full power and pitched nose-up to initiate a go-around. However, the airplane descended rapidly, hit treetops, then 'mushed' into the ground about 20 feet short of the runway. Winds, recorded about 5 nautical miles away, were from 120 degrees true, at 16, gusting to 30 knots. The seven previous hourly observations included winds at 18 to 20 knots, with six of those having gusts at or above 30 knots. The pilot had about 9,000 hours of flight time, and was a captain for a major air cargo carrier. ## Factual narrative On March 19, 2000, about 1500 Eastern Standard Time, a Cessna 172, N6261E, was substantially damaged during an approach to Black Rock Airport (PA234), New Brighton, Pennsylvania. The certificated airline transport pilot and his two passengers were uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed for the personal flight, conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated that the airplane was making an approach after a local-area flight, towards the east, to an east-west grass airstrip. The wind appeared to be steady, down the runway. On final approach, wind conditions became "choppy", and, "on very short final, reducing speed for short field landing, [the] wind sheared downward. Also, wind velocity went to zero. Aircraft was forced downward." As the pilot felt the downward force, he added full power and pitched nose-up to initiate a go-around. However, the airplane continued to sink rapidly, caught treetops, then "mushed" into the ground about 20 feet short of the runway. The runway was about 1,500 feet in length, and 75 feet wide. The approach was flown over a valley, with the final segment flown over an up-slope of a hill. The runway threshold was on top of that hill. A weather observation at the approximate time of the accident, at an airport about 5 nautical miles away, included winds from 120 degrees true, at 16, gusting to 30 knots. The seven previous hourly observations included winds at 18 to 20 knots, with six of those having gusts at or above 30 knots. The pilot had about 9,000 hours of flight time, and was a captain for a major air cargo carrier. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6261E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6261E), registered now, S/N 46361, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 46361 - Airframe hours: 5158 - Engines: Continental O-300 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: George R. Lapic - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 18, 2000, 6 hours before - Departed: P234 - Airport: P234, Black Rock Airport, runway 10, 1,500 × 75 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 9,000 total, 200 in this make and model, 160 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 16 knots, gusting 30 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BVI, 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 20000319043719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000319043719A), Mar 19, 2000: Cessna 172, New Brighton, PA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated that he encountered wind shear on very short final and was unable to maintain a positive climb rate, hit tree tops approximately twenty feet… ## Other investigations on N6261E (1) 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. - [NTSB MIA98LA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA065), Jan 31, 1998: Cessna 172 (N6261E), Valkaria, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate preflight, and subsequent loss of engine power, due to fuel exhaustion, which resulted in a forced landing and impact with trees. 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.