- Date
- November 23, 2002, 12:40 local (17:40 UTC)
- Place
- Stow, MA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N1152FCessna 172G
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 13, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20021123033299A
- Case key
- 56122
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance. A factor in this accident was gusty wind conditions.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported the airplane was on final approach to runway 30, a 1,600 foot-long, gravel runway, when it experienced a sudden downdraft. The airplane struck trees and came to rest short of the runway threshold. The pilot stated he did not experience any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. Winds reported at an airport about 12 miles east of the accident site were from 300 degrees at 19 knots, with 31 knot gusts.
Factual narrative
On November 23, 2002, about 1240 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172G, N1152F, was substantially damaged when it struck trees while on approach to Minute Man Air Field (6B6), Stow, Massachusetts. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The CFI reported he was conducting a demonstration flight in the airplane for the passenger, who was interested in purchasing the airplane and receiving flight instruction. They departed 6B6, and landed at the Fitchburg Municipal Airport (FIT), Fitchburg, Massachusetts. They then departed FIT to return to 6B6.
The CFI reported the airplane was on final approach to runway 30, a 1,600-foot long, gravel runway, when he experienced a sudden downdraft. The airplane struck trees and came to rest short of the runway threshold. The CFI further stated that he did not experience any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions.
The CFI reported 8,000 hours of total flight experience, which included about 5,000 hours in the make and model of the accident airplane.
Winds reported at an airport about 12 miles east of the accident site, at 1256, were from 300 degrees at 19 knots, with 31 knot gusts.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1152F
- Reported as
- Cessna 172G
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17254747
- Airframe hours
- 7,129
- Engine
- Continental O-300-D-6-D, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- John F. Critchley
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 6, 2002 · 15 hours before
- Departed
- FIT · Fitchburg, MA
- Destination
- 6B6 · Stow, MA
- Airport
- 6B6 · Minute Man Air Field, runway 30, 1,600 × 70 ft, gravel
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 65
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- July 23, 2002
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 8,000 total · 5,000 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 19 knots, gusting 31
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,700 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 39 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.45 inHg
- Observed at
- BED, 12 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.