# NTSB NYC95LA150: Cessna 172N, N734CG, Stormville, NY, July 9, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 9, 1995, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Stormville, NY
- Coordinates: 41.5391, -73.729621 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5391&lon=-73.7296&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 16, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38994
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA150
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38994/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA150

## Probable cause

THE REPORTED POTHOLE IN THE RUNWAY.

## Sequence of events

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

- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - rough/uneven (cause)
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON HIS THIRD SUPERVISED SOLO FLIGHT. HE STATED THAT DURING THE LANDING, '. . . THE INSTANT THE NOSE WHEEL ROLLED DOWN, IT STRUCK A LARGE POTHOLE IN THE RUNWAY.  THIS BROKE THE NOSE LANDING GEAR . . . .'  THE STUDENT SAID HE HELD THE NOSE OFF THE GROUND UNTIL THE AIRPLANE SLOWED, THEN THE PROPELLER STRUCK THE RUNWAY SURFACE, THE REMAINDER OF THE NOSE GEAR BROKE OFF, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED NO PREIMPACT ANOMALIES WITH THE AIRPLANE. ADDITIONALLY, THE AIRPORT FACILITY DIRECTORY STATED THAT THE RUNWAY HAD 'WIDE CRACKS AND WEEDS.'

## Factual narrative

On July 9, 1995, about 1130 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N734CG, nosed over during the landing roll, at Stormville Airport, Stormville, New York.  The student pilot was not injured and the aircraft sustained substantial damage.  The flight was conducted as an instructional flight by Grass Hopper Flying Club Inc., under 14 CFR Part 91.  The flight originated from Poughkeepsie, New York at 1000.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and there was no flight plan.

According to the flight instructor, this was the student pilot's third supervised solo.  The student had completed the previous supervised solo flights satisfactorily.

In the NTSB form 6120.1/2, the student pilot stated,

...The approach was normal.  I made a normal landing on      the main landing gear.  At the instant that the nose      wheel rolled down, it struck a large pothole in the      runway.  This broke the nose landing gear....

The airplane came to rest nosed over near the departure end of the runway.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, postaccident examination revealed no anomalies with the engine or airframe.  The nose gear bent in a rearward direction and the shock strut had not collapsed.

Additionally, the Airport Facility Directory stated that the runway had wide cracks and weeds.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N734CG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N734CG-2017-06-07), registration cancelled 2017-06-07, S/N 17268745, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17268745
- Airframe hours: 3357
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Grasshopper Flying Club Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Departed: POU, POUGHKEEPSIE, NY
- Destination: N69
- Airport: N69, Stormville, runway 24, 3,315 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 22 total, 15 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: POU, 7 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19950709024629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950709024629A), Jul 9, 1995: Cessna 172N, Stormville, NY, Substantial damage. Reported normal landing nose gear bent rearward by pot hole in runway. Large cracks and weeds on runway.

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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