# NTSB NYC94LA109: Cessna 172N, N4828G, Princess Anne, MD, July 4, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 4, 1994, 15:58 local (19:58 UTC) - Place: Princess Anne, MD - Coordinates: 38.200035, -75.68991 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2000&lon=-75.6899&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 7, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38777 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA109 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38777/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA109 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO DO A GO-AROUND AND HER DELAY IN THE INITIATING OF AN ABORTED LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN HER FAILURE TO OUTCLIMB TREES DURING THE ABORTED LANDING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, landing - aborted - airspeed(vref) - excessive, pilot in command (cause) - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - raising of flaps - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED THAT SHE THOUGHT THE GRASS STRIP WAS WET FROM A 'PREVIOUS RAIN,' AND UPON TOUCHDOWN THE AIRPLANE 'BOUNCED SLIGHTLY ONCE.' SHE FURTHER STATED THAT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY, AND THE PLANE WAS NOT STOPPING. THE PILOT ABORTED THE LANDING, AND THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE TOP OF A TREE. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT TWO WITNESSES SAW THE AIRPLANE INITIALLY LAND APPROXIMATELY HALFWAY DOWN THE 2500 FEET RUNWAY. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE GRASS WAS DRY AND THE RUNWAY WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. IT WAS ALSO REVEALED THAT THE PILOT DID NOT RAISE THE FLAPS AFTER ABORTING THE LANDING. ## Factual narrative On July 4, 1994, about 1558 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N4828G, piloted by Ms. Patricia Lorraine, collided with a tree after an aborted landing at a private grass strip near, Princess Anne, Maryland. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was operated under 14 CFR 91. According to the pilot's statement on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, dated October 4, 1994, the pilot wrote that she thought the grass strip was wet from a "previous rain." She wrote: ...bounced slightly once...however on the ground the brakes would not work properly...the plane was not stopping and before hitting a tree at the end of the runway, I attempted a go-around...almost cleared the trees, but hit the top of one [tree]... According to FAA Inspector, Leo Kuneman's written statement, dated July 27, 1994, he talked to the State Police at the crash site. The State Police told Mr. Kuneman they had talked with two witnesses that said, "...the aircraft landed approximately half way down the runway, then attempted to do a go around." The FAA's investigation revealed that the grass strip was dry and in "excellent condition," the approach area was free of obstacles, the full weight of the airplane touched down on the runway, and the flaps were not retracted after the aborted landing. Mr. Kuneman wrote in his statement: We have determined that she did attempt a go around, but failed to raise the flaps, which markedly decreased the performance of the aircraft...by landing at the halfway point on the runway, the pilot decreased her ability to stop the aircraft on the initial landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: N4828G (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17273376 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Performance Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PTB, PETERSBURG, VA - Airport: Finch [Private], runway 15, 2,500 × 25 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 188 total, 17 in this make and model, 102 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19940704017459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940704017459A), Jul 4, 1994: Cessna 172N, Princess Anne, MD, Substantial damage. Landed long on Private strip. Tried go around with full flaps. Struck trees on climbout. 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.