# NTSB NYC94LA003: Cessna 172, N736RZ, Mt. Gilead, OH, October 2, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 1, 1993, 21:00 local (Oct 2, 1993, 01:00 UTC)
- Place: Mt. Gilead, OH
- Coordinates: 40.489147, -82.890182 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4891&lon=-82.8902&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38696
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA003
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38696/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA003

## Probable cause

the pilot's improper inflight decision to conduct a night landing at an airport without runway lights, and the subsequent misalignment with the runway and collision with an object.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT COULD NOT ACTIVATE THE RUNWAY LIGHTS DURING A NIGHT LANDING.  HE MADE TWO PASSES OVER THE RUNWAY TO SEE IF THE RUNWAY WAS CLEAR.  HE THEN ELECTED TO LAND ON THE RUNWAY WITHOUT THE RUNWAY LIGHTS AVAILABLE.  HE HAD COMPLETED THE LANDING AND DURING THE ROLL OUT THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER STRUCK THE VASI LIGHT.

## Factual narrative

On Friday, October 1, 1993, at about 2100 eastern daylight time,  a Cessna 172, N736RZ, collided with a VASI light while landing at the Mt. Gilead Airport, Mt. Gilead, Ohio.  The airplane was substantially damaged.  The pilot and the three passengers were not injured.  Visual meteorological         conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan had been     filed.  The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR 91.

The pilot had completed a night landing and heard a "thump."      After deplaning, he observed damage to the left horizontal        stabilizer.  Further investigation revealed that the airplane had collided with VASI lights located off the side of the runway in   the vicinity of the touchdown zone.

According to the pilot's statement on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2:

...runway lights not on UNICOM frequency, was                     not able to activate lights.  Made 2 passes                       to check runway, landed runway 28...on flair                      landing lights raised, not illuminating                           runway.  On roll out horizontal stabilizer                        struck VASI light...

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N736RZ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N736RZ), registered now, S/N R1722741, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna R172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r172k) (registry code 2072431) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1722741
- Airframe hours: 1770
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-360-K 195 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Judson R. Ashley
- Registered owner: Mike Walsh
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 2, 1993, 50 hours before
- Departed: 0A9, ELIZABETHTOWN, TN
- Airport: 4I9, Morrow County, runway 28, 3,497 × 65 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 553 total, 91 in this make and model, 490 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 240° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 64 °F

## 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 19931001040849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931001040849A), Oct 1, 1993: Cessna R172K, Mount Gilead, OH, Substantial damage. Landing on an unlit runway at night, struck VASI light.

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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