# NTSB NYC85LA133: Cessna 172, N8703B, Erie, PA, May 22, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 22, 1985, 15:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place: Erie, PA
- Location: 42.0442° N, 79.8539° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at Erie County Airport (3G1), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0442&lon=-79.8539&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35881
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC85LA133
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35881/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC85LA133

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - recovery from bounced landing - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE ACFT BALLOONED DURING LANDING AND DRIFTED TO THE SIDE OF THE RWY WHERE IT MADE GROUND CONTACT IN A DRAINAGE AREA. THE ACFT BOUNCED AND CAME DOWN HARD BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. THE PLT SAID HE WAS HIGH ON APPRAOCH & LOWERED FULL FLAPS. THE ACFT WAS NOT PROPERLY ALIGNED WITH THE RWY PRIOR TO THE BOUNCE & DRIFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N8703B (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 36403
- Airframe hours: 1743
- Engines: CONTINENTAL UNKNOWN 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: William C. Gantz
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Departed: BRADFORD, PA
- Destination: ERIE, PA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: 3G1, Erie, runway 9, 3,100 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 44 total, 44 in this make and model, 22 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 57 °F

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.

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