# NTSB NYC04CA072: Cessna 172, N8880V, West Dover, VT, February 14, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 13, 2004, 20:40 local (Feb 14, 2004, 01:40 UTC) - Place: West Dover, VT - Coordinates: 42.927223, -72.865554 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9272&lon=-72.8656&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 58757 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04CA072 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58757/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04CA072 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control, and his failure to perform a go-around. Factors were wind gusts and the pilot's lack of flight experience. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final - lack of experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Overrun, landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - snow covered ## Analysis Prior to takeoff, the pilot received a weather briefing from a flight service station, which included a forecast of calm winds at the departure and destination airport. While on the downwind leg for runway 19 at the destination airport, the airplane encountered turbulence, which increased as the airplane turned onto base leg. The wind forced the airplane into a descending right turn attitude. The pilot contemplated a go-around, but thought that it may not be completed successfully under the wind conditions. The pilot subsequently continued the approach and touched down about 700 feet beyond the approach end of the 2,650-foot long, 75-foot wide, asphalt runway. However, the airplane bounced, traveled off the end of the runway, and came to rest inverted in the snow. The pilot reported a total flight experience of approximately 86 hours; of which, about 11 hours were at night. Prior to the accident flight, the pilot had not flown to the destination airport, which was located in mountainous terrain. The reported wind at an airport approximately 17 miles west of the accident site, about the time of the accident, was from 220 degrees at 3 knots. The reported wind at an airport approximately 35 miles north of the accident site, about the time of the accident, was from 270 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 24 knots. ## Factual narrative On February 13, 2004, about 2040 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172, N8880V, was substantially damaged while landing at Mount Snow Airport (4V8), West Dover, Vermont. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed Hartford-Brainard Airport, Hartford, Connecticut. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot's initial written statement to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the weather during cruise flight included excellent visibility and calm winds. The pilot experienced "minor" turbulence on the downwind leg to runway 19 at 4V8, which increased dramatically as the airplane turned onto the base leg. The wind was "tossing" the airplane around and down. The pilot continued the approach and touched down about "1/4 down" the 2,650-foot long, 75-foot wide, asphalt runway. However, the airplane bounced, traveled off the end of the runway, and came to rest inverted in the snow. The pilot did not mention a go-around in his initial statement. According to the pilot's subsequent written statement to the Safety Board, he received a weather briefing from a flight service station prior to takeoff, which included a forecast of calm winds at the departure and destination airport. While on the downwind leg for runway 19, the airplane encountered "severe" turbulence, which "tossed" the airplane to the right and downward. The pilot further stated that he contemplated a go-around, but thought that it may not be completed successfully with the wind shear. The pilot subsequently continued the approach and touched down about "1/4 down" the runway. The airplane bounced, traveled off the end of the runway, and came to rest inverted in the snow. The pilot received his private pilot certificate about 7 months prior to the accident. He reported a total flight experience of approximately 86 hours; of which, about 11 hours were at night. Prior to the accident flight, the pilot had not flown to 4V8, which was located in mountainous terrain. The reported wind at an airport approximately 17 miles west of the accident site, at 2054, was from 220 degrees at 3 knots. The reported wind at an airport approximately 35 miles north of the accident site, at 2035, was from 270 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 24 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8880V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8880V-2008-01-16), registration cancelled 2008-01-16, S/N 17264239, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17264239 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Donald Boccaccio - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: HFD, Hartford, CT - Destination: 4V8, West Dover, VT - Airport: 4V8, Mount Snow Airport, runway 19, 2,650 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2; flight hours: 86 total, 84 in this make and model, 40 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 220° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 14 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: DDH ## 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 20040213001849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040213001849A), Feb 13, 2004: Cessna 172M, West Dover, VT, Substantial damage. (-23) After contacting bridgeport automated flight service station for a weather briefing, pilot of N8880V, departed hartford/brainard (hfd) airport at… 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.