# NTSB NYC02LA010: Cessna 172L, N811P, Northampton, MA, October 17, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 16, 2001, 20:00 local (Oct 17, 2001, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Northampton, MA - Coordinates: 42.328056, -72.611389 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3281&lon=-72.6114&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 4, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 53629 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA010 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53629/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA010 ## Probable cause The pilots' failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in a loss of control and a hard landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The airplane was on approach for landing. According to the pilot, when the airplane was about 10 to 15 feet above the runway, the "airspeed got too slow" and the airplane dropped onto the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the landing gear, wings, and engine. The pilot said he did not experience and mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On October 16, 2001, about 2000 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172L, N811P, was substantially damaged while landing at the Northampton Airport (7B2), Northampton, Massachusetts. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed the Taunton Airport, Taunton, Massachusetts. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a written statement, the pilot said he cancelled his IFR flight plan when he had 7B2 in-sight, and then entered the traffic pattern for runway 14, a 3,506-foot long, 50-foot wide, asphalt runway. While on final approach, the pilot's left foot momentarily became caught under the right rudder pedal. The pilot freed his foot and was about 10 to 15 feet above the runway, when the "airspeed got too slow" and the airplane dropped onto the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the landing gear, wings, and engine. The pilot reported about 145 hours of total flight experience, with about 35 hours in make and model. The pilot further stated he did not experience and mechanical problems with the airplane. The winds reported at an airport about 10 miles south-southeast of 7B2, at 1955, were from 110 degrees at 5 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N811P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N811P-2012-04-18), registration cancelled 2012-04-18, S/N 17260298, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172L - Registry model: [Cessna 172L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172l) (registry code 2072432) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17260298 - Airframe hours: 9150 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Wagner Airways - Registered owner: American Wings, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 30, 2001, 20 hours before - Departed: TAN, TAUNTON, MA - Destination: 7B2, Northampton, MA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: 7B2, Northampton, runway 14, 3,506 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 20; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 18, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 144 total, 35 in this make and model, 96 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 110° at 5 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: CEF, 9 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 20011016029459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011016029459A), Oct 16, 2001: Cessna 172L, North Hampton, MA, No damage. (.19) On October 16, 2001, about 2030 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172L, N811P, was substantially damaged while landing at the northampton airport (7B2),… ## Other investigations on N811P (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 ERA12CA162](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA162), Jan 28, 2012: Cessna 172L (N811P), Grand Isle, VT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inability to stop the airplane on a grass runway with undetected ice. 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.