- Date
- September 3, 1995, 15:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place
- Meriden, CT
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N4671VCessna 172RG
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 4, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950903040159A
- Case key
- 39044
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 failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll which resulted in the aircraft veering off the runway, and a subsequent collision with a fence.
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
During the landing roll, the airplane veered off the right side of the runway, and collided with a fence. The pilot stated, 'at touchdown...brake locked...and aircraft pulled to right.' Postaccident examination revealed skid marks from both main wheels, which began approximately 1200 feet from the approach end of the 3100 foot long runway, continued for 150 feet and veered to the right side of the runway. The FAA inspector stated, 'tires look good, no evidence of severe scuffing that would be associated with a locked brake. Inspection of the brake assembly revealed no anomalies.
Factual narrative
On September 3, 1995, about 1545 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172RG, N4671V, was substantially damaged, when it veered off the runway, during the landing on runway 36, at Meriden Markham Municipal, Meriden, Connecticut. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured, and one passenger received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight that departed from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania at 1415. The personal flight, operated by Raritan Valley Flying School, was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
In the NTSB form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated:
At touchdown at Meriden...winds light, brake locked at touchdown and aircraft pulled to the right....Aircraft struck cyclone perimeter fence.
The FAA Inspector stated:
Inspection of runway 36 showed skid/scuff marks beginning approximately 1200 feet from the approach end of the runway. The marks were from both main wheels and appeared to be more scuff marks from side loading rather than skidding from heavy breaking. The marks continued for approximately 150 feet and veered to the right side of the runway....At approximately the runway edge, it appears that the tail began to drag....Apparently as the aircraft crossed the parallel taxiway it stopped its right turn and began to travel perpendicular to the runway. The aircraft traveled approximately 700 feet across a field and struck a chainlink airport boundary fence.
The FAA Inspector further stated, "Tires look good, no evidence of severe scuffing that would be associated with a locked brake."
According to the Airport Facility Directory, runway 36, was a 3100 foot long runway. Additionally, 25 miles northeast, the winds were reported, from 070 degrees, at 3 knots.
Additionally, during a telephone interview with the president of JRA Executive Air, Inc., Hagerstown, Maryland. He stated that the airplane was hauled to their facility to be repaired. During a brake inspection, the airplane was jacked up, wheels spun up, and the brakes applied. During the brake application, "both wheels came to a screeching halt."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4671V
- Reported as
- Cessna 172RG
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 172RG0361
- Airframe hours
- 3,998
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-F1A6, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Raritan Valley Flying School
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · August 19, 1995
- Departed
- CXY · Harrisburg, PA
- Destination
- MMK
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- MMK · Meriden Markham Municipal, runway 36, 3,100 × 75 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
- 45
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Unknown
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,165 total · 35 in this make and model · 1,102 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 70° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BDL, 25 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.