# NTSB NYC00LA202: Cessna 172H, N1748F, Rainelle, WV, July 16, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 16, 2000, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Rainelle, WV - Coordinates: 37.960697, -80.769195 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9607&lon=-80.7692&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 19, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49750 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC00LA202 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49750/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA202 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain a proper decent rate. A factor was the up-sloping runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - uphill (contributing factor) - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis As the airplane was landing on an upward sloping turf runway, the pilot selected full flaps, and airplane started to sink. Power was added to compensate; however, the nose wheel impacted the slope and separated from the fuselage. The airplane bounced back into the air, continued down the runway, and touched down again. The nose section of the airplane dug into the turf before the airplane slid to a stop. According to a passenger, the airplane was coming over the 'last mountain,' when he felt the plane drop. The pilot then attempted to pull up, but was unable to, and the plane hit the ground and bounced. A second passenger, who was seated in the aft right seat of the airplane, stated, 'it felt like the plane lost lift and hit hard on the landing gear.' The pilot stated that it was his first landing at the airport. ## Factual narrative On July 16, 2000, about 1400 Eastern Daylight Time, a Cessna 172H, N1748F, was substantially damaged while landing at the Rainelle Airport (9W4), Rainelle, West Virginia. The certificated private pilot and two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated that he encountered light turbulence while landing on Runway 35, a 3,300-foot long turf runway. As the airplane crossed over the end of the runway, he selected full flaps. The airplane then started to sink and power was added to compensate. The airplane touched down on all three landing gear, bounced, and touched down again. As the nose was lowered, it dropped to the ground and stopped the engine. According to a passenger that was seated in the right front seat of the airplane, the airplane was coming over the "last mountain," when he felt the plane drop. The pilot then attempted to pull up, but was unable to, and the plane hit the ground and bounced. A second passenger, who was seated in the aft right seat of the airplane, stated, "it felt like the plane lost lift and hit hard on the landing gear." The nose gear wheel then broke off and the gear collapsed. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the runway was sloped upward at the approach end. The inspector added that it was the pilot's first landing at 9W4. The airplane was examined on July 18, 2000, by the FAA inspector. No abnormalities were noted. The weather reported at an airport located about 16 miles to the southeast of the accident site, at 1345, included winds from 240 degrees at 10 knots and light thunderstorms and rain. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1748F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1748F), registered now, S/N 17255143, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172H - Registry model: [Cessna 172H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172h) (registry code 2072424) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17255143 - Airframe hours: 6719 - Engines: Continental O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Roy .D Grimm - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 10, 2000, 21 hours before - Departed: I18, RAVENSWOOD, WV - Destination: 9W4 - Airport: 9W4, Rainelle Airport, runway 35, 3,300 × 75 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 622 total, 372 in this make and model, 547 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 10 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LWB, 16 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 20000716005739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000716005739A), Jul 16, 2000: Cessna 172H, Rainelle, WV, Substantial damage. (-23)The pilot stated that the aircraft encountered win shear while on final approach to runway 35 at the Rainelle Airport (9W4), which caused it to make a… ## Other investigations on N1748F (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 ATL03LA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03LA092), May 13, 2003: Cessna 172H (N1748F), Somerville, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's misjudged approach airspeed and distance which resulted in an undershoot of the runway and collision with terrain. 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.