# NTSB NYC04LA087: Cessna 172L, N7872G, Turner, ME, March 14, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 14, 2004, 16:05 local (21:05 UTC) - Place: Turner, ME - Coordinates: 44.188888, -70.23278 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.1889&lon=-70.2328&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Portland FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58890 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04LA087 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58890/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=58890 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04LA087 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudgment of speed/distance and the delayed aborted landing. A factor in this accident was the tail wind condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, landing - aborted - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - distance/speed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - aborted landing - delayed, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that he was attempting to land on runway 30, a 2,104-foot long, 50-foot wide, asphalt runway. His first approach was high, and resulted in a go-around. On the second approach, the airplane touched down further down the runway then he had planned. The airplane bounced and the student pilot initiated an aborted landing. The airplane began to climb normally; however, it struck the tops of trees, which were located beyond the departure end of the runway. A witness who observed the airplane stated that after the airplane bounced back in the air, the pilot lowered the nose and appeared to be attempting to land again. The airplane disappeared from his view and was followed by the sound of increasing engine power. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. Winds reported at an airport located about 9 miles south of the accident site, about the time of the accident, were from 150 degrees at 9 knots, with 15 knot gusts. ## Factual narrative On March 14, 2004, about 1605 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172L, N7872G, was substantially damaged when it struck trees during an aborted landing at the Twitchell Airport (3B5), Turner, Maine. The certificated student pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the solo instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The student pilot reported that he was attempting to land on runway 30, a 2,104-foot long, 50-foot wide, asphalt runway. His first approach was high, and resulted in a go-around. On the second approach, the airplane was "a little high," and touched down further down the runway then he had planned. The airplane bounced and the student pilot initiated an aborted landing. He placed the carburetor heat in, added full power, and retracted the flaps to 20 degrees. The airplane began to climb normally; however, it struck the tops of trees, which were located beyond the departure end of the runway. The airplane flipped over and impacted the ground. A witness observed the airplane on final approach. He stated that the airplane looked high, and the airplane's nose was pointed toward the runway, like "[the pilot] was trying to force it down." The airplane's nose wheel contacted the runway, and the airplane bounced back in the air. After bouncing up, the pilot lowered the nose and appeared to be attempting to land again. The airplane disappeared from his view and was followed by the sound of increasing engine power. He stated that engine sounded like it was at full power. Shortly thereafter, he observed the airplane strike trees. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. The student pilot reported 134 hours of total flight experience, which included 54 hours of solo flight experience. Winds reported at an airport located about 9 miles south of 3B5, at 1555, were from 150 degrees at 9 knots, with 15 knot gusts. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7872G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7872G), registered now, S/N 17259572, built 1970 (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: 17259572 - Airframe hours: 3217 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Lawreston C. Crute - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Departed: AUG, Augusta, ME - Destination: 3B5, Turner, ME - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 3B5, Twitchell Airport, runway 30, 2,104 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 59; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 134 total, 93 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 9 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 9 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: LEW, 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 20040314003269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040314003269A), Mar 14, 2004: Cessna 172L, Turner, ME, Substantial damage. (-23) On the 3rd leg of a solo x-country, student pilot, lawreston crute, was on a final for runway 30 at Twitchell's airport, Turner, ME. The student pilot… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 10, 2004, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=58890. 300 KB in all. - Pilot's Statement (item 1, .PDF, 174 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466218&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466219&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Witness Statement (item 3, .PDF, 88 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466220&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Master.PDF 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.