# NTSB NYC01LA078: Cessna 172P, N62332, Miamisburg, OH, February 9, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 8, 2001, 19:30 local (Feb 9, 2001, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Miamisburg, OH - Coordinates: 39.62915, -84.270111 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6292&lon=-84.2701&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 51724 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC01LA078 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51724/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA078 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point. Factors included the nighttime conditions, and the pilot's improper decision to leave the runway lighting at high intensity. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, landing - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - light condition - night (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot was returning from a night pleasure flight, and for 30 minutes, had difficulty locating the airport. After he located what he thought was the correct airport, he turned the runway lights on, to high intensity, for confirmation. He left the runway lights on high intensity, and entered the traffic pattern. He then turned the airplane onto final, and "followed the VASI lights to the approach area." As the airplane touched down, it simultaneously struck the last approach light. The pilot stated that the approach lights and his low altitude during the approach prevented recognition of his height above the runway. The pilot had 92 hours of flight time. ## Factual narrative On February 8, 2001, about 1930 Eastern Standard Time, a Cessna 172P, N62332, was substantially damaged after landing short of the runway at Dayton-Wright Brothers Airport (MGY), Miamisburg, Ohio. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed for the local personal flight, which was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated that he was returning from a pleasure flight, and for 30 minutes, had difficulty locating the airport. After he located what he thought was the airport, he turned the runway lights on, to high intensity, to confirm it was the correct one. He left the runway lights on high intensity, and entered the traffic pattern for Runway 20. He then turned the airplane onto final, and "followed the VASI lights to the approach area." As the airplane touched down, it simultaneously struck the last approach light. According to the pilot, "The approach lights and low altitude prevented recognition of actual height above the runway." The pilot had 92 hours of flight time, with 30 hours in the preceding 90 days. Winds at the airport, about the time of the landing, were from 150 degrees true, at 4 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N62332](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N62332), registered now, S/N 17275251, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17275251 - Airframe hours: 6493 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Aviation Sales, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 15, 2001, 26 hours before - Departed: MGY, Miamisburg, OH - Destination: Miamisburg, OH - Airport: MGY, Dayton-Wright Brothers, runway 20, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 22, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 94 total, 83 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 150° at 4 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: MGY ## 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 20010208038249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010208038249A), Feb 8, 2001: Cessna 172P, Dayton, OH, No damage. (-23) Pilot was practicing night flying and landed short of runway 20 at mgy. Aircraft clipped approach light with the right landing gear leg. The light… ## Other investigations on N62332 (2) 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 IAD97LA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD97LA046), Feb 4, 1997: Cessna 172P (N62332), Chesapeake, OH, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain proper altitude during the approach at night. Related factors were: darkness, and the pilot's lack of night flying experience. - [NTSB CHI83LA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI83LA056), Dec 12, 1982: Cessna 172 (N62332), Cincinnati, OH, substantial damage 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.