NYC08CA312

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 177 · Warwick, NY · September 11, 2008

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
September 11, 2008, 15:25 local (19:25 UTC)
Place
Warwick, NY
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N17142Cessna 177
Defining event
Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report January 22, 2009
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA/FSDO
FAA report
20080911849299A
Case key
68934

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to obtain the proper touchdown point while landing.

Findings · 3

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Action: incorrect action performancePersonnel issues › Action/decision · PilotCessna 177B: 5 casesAll aircraft: 1,386 casesProbable cause
Terrain: wet/muddy terrainEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Not specifiedCessna 177B: 1 caseAll aircraft: 110 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide pathAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedCessna 177B: 4 casesAll aircraft: 809 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The pilot of the Cessna 177B stated that, on approach to runway 3R, he noted that the windsock was favoring the runway, with a left crosswind approximately 15 degrees from the center of the airplane. While on a short final approach, the pilot then observed the windsock indicating no wind, but favoring a direction across the runway. The pilot continued his approach at 60 knots, with full flap extension. He flared the airplane over the first one-third of the runway, but the airplane floated and touched down between 500 to 700 feet from the end of the runway. The pilot was unable to stop the airplane on the runway. It traveled off the end of the runway and struck muddy terrain. During the impact, the left wing, including a left wing rib, sustained damage. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any. The reported wind at an airport located approximately 15 miles north of the accident site, about 31 minutes before the accident, was from 160 degrees at 4 knots. The reported wind at the same site about 29 minutes after the accident, was from 160 degrees at 6 knots.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the Cessna 177B stated that he was attempting to land on runway 3R, a 2,150-foot-long, 28-foot-wide, asphalt runway. During the approach, the pilot noted that the windsock was favoring runway 3R, with a left crosswind approximately 15 degrees from the center of the airplane. While on a short final approach, the pilot then observed the windsock indicating no wind, but favoring a direction across the runway. The pilot continued his approach at 60 knots, with full flap extension. He flared the airplane over the first one-third of the runway, but the airplane floated and touched down between 500 to 700 feet from the end of the runway. The pilot was unable to stop the airplane on the runway. It traveled off the end of the runway and struck muddy terrain. During the impact, the left wing, including a left wing rib sustained damage. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any. The reported wind at an airport located approximately 15 miles north of the accident site, about 31 minutes before the accident, was from 160 degrees at 4 knots. The reported wind at the same site about 29 minutes after the accident was from 160 degrees at 6 knots.

Aircraft

Registration
N17142
Reported as
Cessna 177 (B)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17702507
Airframe hours
4,465
Engine
Lycoming O360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Morris Aero Club Inc
Registered owner
Morris Aero Club Inc
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · June 8, 2008 · 15 hours before
Departed
MMU · Morristown, NJ
Destination
N72 · Warwick, NY
Airport
N72 · Warwick Municipal Airport, runway 03R, 2,150 × 28 ft, asphalt

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
67
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
June 12, 2008
Seat
Left
Flight hours
813 total · 350 in this make and model · 721 as pilot in command · 9 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
160° at 4 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
7,000 ft broken
Temperature
70 °F, dew point 52 °F
Altimeter
30.29 inHg
Observed at
MGJ, 15 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.