# NTSB NYC96LA124: Cessna 172, N7373G, Gardner, MA, June 13, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 13, 1996, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Gardner, MA
- Location: 42.5499° N, 72.0160° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at GARDNER MUNI (GDM), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5499&lon=-72.0160&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 20, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 39195
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC96LA124
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39195/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC96LA124

## Probable cause

the pilot 's misjudgment of speed and distance during landing.

## Sequence of events

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

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - distance/speed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - swampy

## Analysis

The pilot was doing a simulated forced landing when the airplane overran the runway and nosed over.  According to the pilot, he was too high during the approach, and he considered doing a go around; however, the airspeed was too slow, so he landed.  The airplane bounced twice, struck a runway light, and came to rest inverted about 50 yards beyond the runway end on swampy terrain.

## Factual narrative

On June 13, 1996, about 1500 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N7373G, was substantially damaged while practicing forced landings at Gardner Municipal Airport, Gardner, Massachusetts.  The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.  The personal flight originated in Westfield, Massachusetts about 1415 edt.  No flight plan had been filed for the local flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 the pilot stated, I was "high and close on final and intended to go around but was too slow and ran out of runway.  I bounced two times on the runway and hit the last runway light on the left, then came to rest upside down approximately 50 yards past the end of the runway.  I was too slow to start the propeller and did not have adequate runway remaining to stop."

Post-accident examination of the wreckage, by the Federal Aviation Administration, revealed no mechanical malfunction.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7373G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7373G-1997-11-06), registration cancelled 1997-11-06, S/N 17259073 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17259073
- Airframe hours: 7686
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Edward W. Carroll
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Departed: BAF, WESTFIELD, MA
- Destination: GDM
- Airport: GDM, Gardner Municipal, runway 18, 3,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 231 total, 56 in this make and model, 199 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F

## 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 19960613013799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960613013799A), Jun 13, 1996: Cessna 172K, Gardner, MA, Substantial damage. High on approach to land but to slow and too late to go around. Bounced ran off end runway. Hit REIL. Nosed over.

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.