NYC96LA006

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172 · Honeoye Falls, NY · October 10, 1995

Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
October 10, 1995, 18:33 local (22:33 UTC)
Place
Honeoye Falls, NY
Injuries
1 serious, 2 minor; on the ground: 1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N2792LCessna 172
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report July 31, 1996
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19951010032019A
Case key
39108

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

the pilot's failure to establish a climb in that he failed to raise the flaps and failed to assure full power was applied during the go-around.

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.

In flight collision with objectGo-around (vfr)
Weather condition - tailwindFactor
Raising of flaps - not performedPilot in commandCause
Throttle/power control - improper use ofPilot in commandCause
Climb - not attainedPilot in commandCause
Object - wire,transmission

Analysis

The pilot reported that he was conducting a visual landing to runway 1. He was using carburetor heat, and the flaps were set to 40 degrees during the final approach. The pilot detected a tailwind and an increased ground speed and elected to perform a go-around. During the go-around, the engine lost partial power, and the airplane did not climb. The airplane's main landing gear struck a telephone wire at the departure end of the runway. The airplane then inverted and collided with an automobile. Postaccident examination of the airplane by an FAA Inspector revealed that the flaps were set at 40 degrees and the throttle was set at the midrange position. Runway 1 is a 1,685-foot long, 90-foot wide, turf runway with trees at each end.

Factual narrative

On October 10, 1995, about 1833 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172H, N2792L, collided with a telephone wire and an automobile during a go-around at the Honeoye Falls Airport, Honeoye Falls, New York. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private pilot and passenger received serious injuries. One person on the ground received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that departed Perry, New York, at 1815. No flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot reported that he had flown to Perry, New York, about 25 nautical miles southwest of Honeoye Falls, to fuel the airplane. After refueling, the pilot returned to Honeoye Falls and was flying a visual approach to runway 01. The pilot stated that during the final approach he was using carburetor heat and 40 degrees of flaps, and he detected "Evidence of tail wind causing increase in ground speed . . ." The pilot elected to perform a go-around. During the go-around, the pilot further stated that a "Significant power shortage was evident. Unable to regain enough altitude, gear struck telephone wires causing inversion of plane and striking automobile."

Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector revealed that the flaps were set at approximately 40 degrees, the elevator trim was set nose up, and the throttle was in the mid-range position. Examination of the engine revealed the compression on the number one through six cylinders, respectively, were as follows: 26/80; 72/80; 74/80; 74/80; 40/80; 76/80.

Additionally, runway 01 was a 1,685 foot long, 90 foot wide turf runway, with trees at each end. The wind was reported to be 3 to 5 knots from the west.

Aircraft

Registration
N2792L
Reported as
Cessna 172
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17255992
Engine
Continental O-300, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Thomas R. Scroger
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
01G · Perry, NY
Destination
D70 · NY
Airport
D70 · Honeoye Falls, runway 1, 1,685 × 90 ft, grass/turf

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
51
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
500 total · 400 in this make and model · 465 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
280° at 3 knots
Visibility
15 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
61 °F, dew point 50 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
ROC, 10 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.