# NTSB NYC01LA103: Cessna 177, N3117T, Hampton, NH, April 22, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 22, 2001, 13:10 local (17:10 UTC) - Place: Hampton, NH - Coordinates: 42.940578, -70.819343 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9406&lon=-70.8193&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 4, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 52100 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC01LA103 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52100/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA103 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent encounter with a downdraft, which resulted in a collision with trees. A factor related to the accident were the downdraft wind conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr) - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - flight into adverse weather - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot stated that while landing on runway 20, as the airplane crossed over a tree line, the airplane's airspeed "shot up" momentarily to 105 mph, and then back to 80 mph. After encountering the "heavy turbulence," the pilot elected to perform a go-around; however, as the airplane began to climb, at a "best climb of 65 to 70 mph," the airplane would not ascend, and struck trees located about 50 feet beyond the departure end of the runway. After impacting the trees, the airplane descended, and came to rest on top of a stone wall. According to the Airplane Owners Manual, the obstacle clearance speed, with a 1/4 flap setting, was 67 mph. The winds reported at an airport located about 6 miles to the north of 7B3, at 1255, were from 280 degrees at 18 knots, gusts to 25 knots. ## Factual narrative On April 22, 2001, about 1310 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 177, N3117T, was substantially damaged during a go-around from the Hampton Airfield (7B3), Hampton, New Hampshire. The certificated commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According the pilot, he was landing on runway 20, a 2,100-foot long, turf runway. As the airplane crossed over a tree line, the airspeed "shot up" momentarily to 105 mph, and then back to 80 mph. After encountering the "heavy turbulence," the pilot elected to perform a go-around. As the airplane began to climb, at a "best climb of 65 to 70 mph," the airplane would not ascend, and struck trees located about 50 feet beyond the departure end of the runway. The airplane descended, and impacted two evergreen trees before coming to rest on top of a stone wall. According to the airplane Owners Manual, the published stall speed for the airplane in level flight, with a 1/4 flap setting, was 60 mph. The manual also stated that the obstacle clearance speed, with a 1/4 flap setting, was 67 mph. The winds reported at an airport located about 6 miles to the north of 7B3, at 1255, were from 280 degrees at 18 knots, gusts to 25 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3117T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3117T-2001-12-06), registration cancelled 2001-12-06, S/N 17700417, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 177 - Registry model: [Cessna 177](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177) (registry code 2073704) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17700417 - Airframe hours: 4556 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John L. Palmer - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 24, 2000, 159 hours before - Departed: 81B, Oxford, ME - Destination: 7B3, NH - Airport: 7B3, Hampton Airfield, runway 20, 2,100 × 170 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review September 23, 1999; seat: left; flight hours: 1,009 total, 45 in this make and model, 981 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 18 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: PSM, 6 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 20010422008009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010422008009A), Apr 22, 2001: Cessna 177, Hampton, NH, No damage. (-23)On 4/22/01, a Cessna model 177, N3117T, piloted by john l. palmer, com.2123798, with passenger mary anna palmer, encountered turbulence on final approach… 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.