# NTSB NYC96LA185: Cessna 182, N737MD, Stow, MA, September 16, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 16, 1996, 18:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Stow, MA - Location: 42.4604° N, 71.5180° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at MINUTE MAN AIR FLD (6B6), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4604&lon=-71.5180&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 29, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39242 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC96LA185 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39242/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC96LA185 ## Probable cause the pilot's misjudgment of speed and distance during the landing, and his failure to go around while there was sufficient runway remaining, which resulted in a runway overrun and an encounter with a soft terrain at the edge of a pond. Wet grass on the runway was a related factor. ## 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) - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - grass (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - wet (contributing factor) - terrain condition - soft ## Analysis The pilot was practicing a short field landing on a 1600 foot long turf runway. He reported that his first approach was high, and he made a go-around. He described the second approach as a little fast and long. He was unable to stop by the end of the runway, and the airplane went off the departure end and into a pond. During the occurrence, the nose landing gear was bent rearward, and the firewall was wrinkled. The pilot also reported that he was not aware that the grass was wet or that he had a tailwind of 2 to 3 mph during touchdown. ## Factual narrative On September 16, 1996, about 1800 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182, N737MD, was substantially damaged during a landing at The Minuteman Airport, Stow, Massachusetts. The commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the flight which had departed from Worcester, Massachusetts about 1745, and was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Accident report, the pilot stated: "...Decided I would practice a short field landing on runway 30 (1600 [feet long]). The wind sock was hanging limp, but I discovered later that that I had bout 2-3 knots tail wind. Also I did not know the grass was wet. The first approach was high and I made a normal go-around. The second one (I thought) was OK, but I was a little bit high and fast. When I saw the landing wasn't going to work, it was too late to go around. I went into the pond at the end of the runway at about 10 mph." The nose landing gear was bent rearward, and the firewall was wrinkled. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N737MD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N737MD), registered now, S/N 18261672, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182 - Registry model: [Cessna 182P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182p) (registry code 2075816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18261672 - Airframe hours: 3338 - Engines: Continental O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Francis Harrington - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 28, 1995, 169 hours before - Departed: ORH, WORCESTER, MA - Airport: 6B6, Minute Man, runway 30, 1,600 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,000 total, 400 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 19960916028739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960916028739A), Sep 16, 1996: Cessna 182P, Stow, MA, Substantial damage. Pilot stated he was practicing short field landings. Touched down long, through bushed into swamp at end of runway. (-23) pilot stated he was practicing short… 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.