# NTSB NYC96LA093: Cessna 172P, N98574, Rutland, VT, April 28, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 28, 1996, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Rutland, VT - Location: 43.5297° N, 72.9496° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at RUTLAND/SOUTHERN VERMONT RGNL (RUT), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5297&lon=-72.9496&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 22, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39171 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC96LA093 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39171/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC96LA093 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper flare and recovery from a bounced landing. A contributing factor was his lack of recent flight experience. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - lack of recent experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - grass ## Analysis The pilot had completed a cross country flight and was landing on runway 31. When the pilot flared, the airplane drifted to the left. During the pilot's attempt to realign the airplane with the runway, the airplane bounced and veered left off of the runway. Winds reported by the airport automatic weather observing/reporting system (AWOS) at the time of the accident were from 300 degrees at 4 knots. The pilot had logged 7 hours in this make and model, of which 5 hours were as pilot-in-command. The balance of his flight experience was in the Cessna 152. The pilot had flown 2-1/2 hours in the previous 90 days. ## Factual narrative On April 28, 1996, at 1030 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172P, N98574, was substantially damaged during landing at the Rutland State Airport, Rutland, Vermont. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated at Schenectady, New York, about 0930. A VFR flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that he was landing at the Rutland State Airport (RUT) at the completion of a cross country flight. He stated that on final to runway 31, the airplane drifted to the left during the flare. He further stated: "...Attempted to reestablish alignment with runway and aircraft touched down and bounced. Aircraft touched down and veered sharply to the left and stopped in the sod near runway intersection...Wind sock indicated right quartering headwind from approximately 340 degrees..." In the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector's report, he stated the pilot informed him that the wind gusts and turbulence caused the pilot to flare high. The airplane then stalled, hitting the runway on the nose wheel. The pilot did not attribute the accident to any mechanical malfunction. Winds reported by the Rutland AWOS at the time of the accident were from 300 degrees at 4 knots. The pilot's total flight experience was 99 hours, of which 36 hours were as a pilot-in-command. He had logged a total of 7 hours in this make and model, of which 5 hours were as pilot-in-command. The balance of his flight experience was in the Cessna 152. The pilot had flown 2 1/2 hours in the previous 90 days. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N98574](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N98574-2000-08-17), registration cancelled 2000-08-17, S/N 17276313 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Engines: Lycoming O-320J-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Richmore Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: SCH, SCHENECTADY, NY - Destination: RUT - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: RUT, Rutland State, runway 31, 3,170 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 99 total, 7 in this make and model, 36 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft broken - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: RUT ## 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 19960428027789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960428027789A), Apr 28, 1996: Cessna 172P, Rutland, VT, Substantial damage. Flared too high on landing. Stalled impacted runway on nose gear. Report control lost due turbulence. Wind light. ## Other investigations on N98574 (1) 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. - [NTSB NYC00FA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00FA106), Mar 30, 2000: Cessna 172P (N98574), Ballston Spa, NY, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: a loss of control for undetermined reason(s). 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.