- Date
- June 1, 1998, 14:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place
- Madison, CT
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N72657Cessna 140
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 28, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980601011579A
- Case key
- 39570
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper in-flight decision to continue the landing and his delayed go-around attempt. A factor in this accident was the pilot's diverted attention.
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.
Analysis
The airplane was on approach to the 1,863 foot long, asphalt runway. The pilot stated, 'Just before the final flare a hornet distracted me to the extent I lost concentration to the task of landing. I touched down 'long.' Seeing only a short area in which to stop, I applied full power to go around, but there was not enough room before the reeds in the swampy area.' The airplane struck the reeds and nosed over. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions of the airframe or engine. Wind reported at airports about 15 miles west, and 23 miles east of the accident site at 1345, were from 330 degrees at 15 knots, with 20 knot gusts, and from 350 degrees at 10 knots, respectively.
Factual narrative
On June 1, 1998, about 1415 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 140, N72657, was substantially damaged during landing at the Griswold Airport (N04), Madison, Connecticut. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed Skylark Airpark Airport, Warehouse, Connecticut, about 1330, destined for N04. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The airplane was on approach to runway 06, a 1,863 foot long, asphalt runway. In a written statement, the pilot said:
" Just before final flare for landing a hornet distracted me to the extent I lost concentration to the task of landing. I touched down 'long.' Seeing only a short area in which to stop, I applied full power to go around, but there was not enough room before the reeds in the swampy area...I was carrying a little extra speed on final because the wind was switching about 90 degrees from time to time...."
The airplane struck the reeds, and nosed over.
Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector did not reveal evidence of a pre-impact malfunction of the airframe or engine.
Wind reported at airports about 15 miles west, and 23 miles east of the accident site at 1345, were from 330 degrees at 15 knots, with 20 knot gusts, and from 350 degrees at 10 knots, respectively.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N72657
- Reported as
- Cessna 140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 9833
- Engine
- Continental C85, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Sherman M. Clemens
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- 7B6 · Warehouse Point, CT
- Destination
- N04
- Airport
- N04 · Griswold, runway 6, 1,863 × 50 ft, asphalt
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
- 62
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,185 total · 100 in this make and model · 1,185 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- HVN, 15 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.