# NTSB NYC97LA008: Cessna 172N, N5535R, Hilton, NY, October 26, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 26, 1996, 15:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Hilton, NY - Coordinates: 43.279052, -77.790031 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2791&lon=-77.7900&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 31, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39297 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC97LA008 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39297/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA008 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper soft field landing technique, which allowed a nose over during the landing rollout. Soft terrain was a related factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, landing - roll - soft field landing/procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis The student pilot was landing on a grass runway when the airplane nosed over. According to the pilot, he conducted the final approach at a speed of 65 mph with 30 degrees of flaps. During the landing roll, the airplane touched down a few feet off the runway center, and the pilot indicated that he did not hold full back (up) elevator. The airplane then crossed a soft spot, about 200 yards down the runway, and nosed over. The pilot further reported, that landing on the center of the runway, firmer ground, and holding full up elevator would have helped prevent the accident. Also, he indicated that the runway conditions were dry with a light wind from the south, and that there was no malfunction with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On October 26, 1996, about 1545 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N5535R, was substantially damaged when it nosed over during the landing roll, on a private turf runway, near Hilton, New York. The student pilot, sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed Ledgedale Airpark, Brockport, New York, about 1510. No flight plan was filed for the instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The student pilot reported that he departed runway 18, a 2,200 foot turf runway, from Hilton, with his flight instructor, earlier that day. He was returning from Brockport, where he dropped off his instructor, and planned to conduct an approach and landing to runway 18. During the final approach, the airspeed was 65 MPH, with 30 degrees of flaps. During the landing roll, the airplane touched down a few feet off runway center, and the pilot did not hold full back (up) elevator. The airplane then crossed a soft spot, about 200 yards down the runway, and nosed over. The pilot further reported, that landing on the center of the runway, firmer ground, and holding full up elevator would have helped prevent the accident. Also, he indicated that the runway conditions were dry with a light wind from the south, and that there were no malfunctions with the airplane. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector did not disclose evidence of malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any. The pilot had a total flight experience of about 48 hours, of which 13 were solo. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5535R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5535R), registered now, S/N 17253117, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (registry code 2072414) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17253117 - Airframe hours: 1306 - Engines: Continental O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Larry Speer - Registered owner: Edward Hendershot - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1996, 17 hours before - Departed: 7G0, BROCKPORT, NY - Destination: NONE - Airport: NONE, Private Field, runway 18, 2,000 × 30 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 46 total, 46 in this make and model, 11 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19961026033879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961026033879A), Oct 26, 1996: Cessna 172F, Hilton, NY, Substantial damage. Aircraft was taxiing to the hangar after landing when it struck a soft spot on runway and flipped 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.