- Date
- July 2, 1994, 15:05 local (19:05 UTC)
- Place
- Newport News, VA
- Injuries
- 3 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N97000Cessna 172P
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 26, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 38775
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's (1) improper recovery from a bounced landing and (2) failure to maintain aircraft control.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane was landing when, according to witnesses, it touched down and then became airborne again. The left wing dropped and contacted the ground on the left side of the runway. The airplane cartwheeled and came to rest off the left side of the runway. The pilot reported: 'during the accident, I sustained a head injury which rendered me unconscious.' Consequently, according to the pilot, he does not remember the accident. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions.
Factual narrative
On July 2, 1994, at 1505 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172P, N97000, operated by Flight International, of Newport News, Virginia, struck the ground while landing at Patrick Henry Field, Newport News. The airplane received substantial damage. The pilot and two passengers received minor injuries. One passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight which operated under 14 CFR Part 91.
In the NTSB Accident Report, the pilot stated:
...I contacted the tower and received clearance to land runway 20. From this point until after the accident I have no memory. During the accident I sustained a head injury which rendered me unconscious. Additionally I have lost any memory of the transition period. My next moment of awareness was sitting on the grass on the field with the fire/rescue personnel
The FAA reported witnesses observed the airplane touch down on runway 20, and then become airborne again. The left wing was then seen to drop and contact the ground on the left side of the runway. The airplane cartwheeled and came to rest off the left side of the runway.
The pilot-in-command held a private pilot certificate. According to the NTSB Accident Report, he had a total time of 192 hours with 100 hours in the Cessna 172 and 3 hours in the preceding 90 days.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N97000
- Reported as
- Cessna 172P
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17276142
- Airframe hours
- 4,517
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D2J, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Flight International
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 3, 1994 · 89 hours before
- Airport
- PHF · Patrick Henry, runway 20, 6,526 × 150 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
- 38
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 192 total · 100 in this make and model · 152 as pilot in command · 3 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 5,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PHF